Perhaps the wound is old. A parent abused you. A teacher slighted you. And you are angry.Or perhaps the wound is fresh. The friend who owes you money just drove by in a new car. The boss who hired you with promises of promotions has forgotten how to pronounce your name. Your circle of friends escaped on a weekend getaway, and you …And you are hurt.
Part of you is broken, and the other part is bitter. Part of you wants to cry, and part of you wants to fight. The tears you cry are hot because they come from your heart, and there is a fire burning in your heart. It’s the fire of anger. It’s blazing. It’s consuming. Its flames leap up under a steaming pot of revenge.
And you are left with a decision. “Do I put the fire out or heat it up? Do I get over it or get even? Do I release it or resent it? Do I let my hurts heal, or do I let hurt turn into hate?” . . .Resentment is the deliberate decision to nurse the offense until it becomes a black, furry, growling grudge.
Unfaithfulness is wrong. Revenge is bad. But the worst part of all is that, without forgiveness, bitterness is all that is left. [Max Lucado LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN p. 71]
“In the final analysis, forgiveness is an act of faith. By forgiving another, I am trusting that God is a better justice-maker than I am. By forgiving, I release my own right to get even and leave all issues of fairness for God to work out. I leave in God’s hands the scales that must balance justice and mercy.” [Yancey p.83]
Related articles
- From Fear to Forgiveness/Dealing With Anger! (simplyjuliana.com)
- Forgiveness – Part 3 (pastorlamb.com)
- Abusers! Previously Called Victims…as the cycle continues! (Matt. 6:14-15) (secretangelps911.wordpress.com)
- Hurt People Hurt People, by The Hurt Healer (takeitfrommeg.com)
- How Do I Forgive?? – Part 2 (laurasconfessions.com)
- Forgiving My Father (drbstratton.wordpress.com)
- Angry at God? (drbstratton.wordpress.com)
As I was falling asleep last night, Charles Stanley was just starting to talk about anger and I knew I wouldn’t make it through the whole thing so I recorded it. Think I’ll go watch it now 🙂 Leaving my job and some other stuff has taken its toll and I definitely don’t need any new wounds to start festering. As a matter of fact, I think that it all has shown me that I have some old ones in there that need to be dealt with. Thanks for the reminder! Enjoy the holiday!
My old Pastor used to say it was like picking a scab on an old wound. The hurt was still there, when a situation came up, it just surfaced. The pain was still there too, just not dealt with. I am going thru one of these too. Help us Lord deal with the root of rejection, and give it to you, as we are chosen and accepted in You!
This is the second post I’ve read on forgiveness today! Thank you for sharing it and God bless you! A friend is going through something really hard right now . .. and I never thought to remind her about forgiveness. Now I can.
Thank you Debbie, your poem on forgiveness blessed me as well!
Have you heard of the book, Bait of Satan? It’s by John Bevere. I don’t want to say that I’m a slow learner, but I’m going through the study for the third time in two years.
There is a book and a workbook for the study. The book alone helps understand, but the Bible study is where application comes into play, which brings healing and forgiveness.
I always check Abebooks.com first when buying a used book. Sometimes I find them there for $1 plus shipping.
Someone recently reminded me that unforgiveness is like drinking poison – then waiting for the perpetrator to die! It’s a horrible place to be. Thank You, Jesus for caring enough to help me get free from the bondage of holding grudges. Hallelujah!
May your weekend be blessed beyond measure!
\o/
I’ll have to check that one out, I love to read too. I’ve read his “Driven by Eternity” and Lisa’s book “Lioness Arising” – that one is a must have, it helped me so much! And I haven’t heard of Abebook.com either – thank you so much sister!