| Here
are four things you need to know about forgiveness: 1) Forgiveness
doesn't make what happened to you right; it means you've made a decision
not to let it control your life. By forgiving and attempting to restore
the relationship, you reclaim your peace of mind. If the other person
refuses to acknowledge what happened or that it was wrong, the offence
can and should still be forgiven. Forgiveness doesn't depend on the
other person; it depends on you. 2) Forgiveness matters, even when the
offending party refuses to admit guilt. When you wait for someone to
admit he or she was wrong, you're placing your future in that person's
hands. Forgiveness is first and foremost for your own benefit, not the
benefit of others. By forgiving, you're letting the pain and hurt go and
moving forward. 3) Your willingness to forgive can move the other
person to seek forgiveness. Perhaps the person who hurt you doesn?t feel
they deserve to be forgiven. Or they may know what they did was wrong,
but lack the courage to step forward and ask for forgiveness. When you
make the first move, it opens the door and allows them to reach out and
find mercy and understanding. 4) Forgiveness is easier when you accept
that we all need it. When you refuse to forgive because you think
someone's offences are greater than your own, that's pride. And '...God
opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble' (1 Peter 5:5 NLT). The
Bible says, 'Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each
other, just as in Christ God forgave you.' Once you realise the depth of
God's grace toward you, it's easier to extend grace to others. |
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