Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. I Cor. 1:3-4 (NIV)
Understanding is the beginning of healing. It’s where forgiveness starts when someone has hurt me.
Not to excuse a sin against me or to invalidate the pain, but understanding that their actions most likely have a driving force that has nothing to do with me. Just like my sinful behavior is rooted in past wounds and lies embedded in my thinking. Not so much with the person standing in front of me.
When I offend, I want to be forgiven, understood and made right in my relationship.
But when I am wronged, I tend to react to the situation with a mirrored attitude of the offender instead of acting on God’s word to forgive and show compassion.
Forgiveness doesn’t always mean reconciliation. But it is necessary for my healing. It allows God room to work in my life and my heart. It opens the door to freedom.
And as God works and moves in my life, I hope I learn how to respond to others. I hope I learn to offer the same compassion to others I want shown to me.
Is there someone you need to begin to understand so you can move forward in God’s work in your life?
Next post: Chapter one of The Chosen Bride
photo credit: David Castilll Dominici/http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/
Well said, sister!