I’ve got to admit…I wasnt as prepared for my Sunday School lesson this morning as I should have been. I prayed for God to do something special today…and it happened. I love teaching our students and the last few Sunday mornings have been OUTSTANDING. But today was simply God-sized. We’ve been dealing with love and taking a deep look with how we love others. Today’s topic dealt with the things we accept and the things we are/are not willing to forgive.
One of our students came into today not knowing what she was about to have to face. God began to work on her and bring to the surface some feelings, some pain, so hurt that she hasnt really gotten over. Her father’s life was taken from her and set up by another person. She honestly admitted that she cannot forgive that person. And then God took over. I asked for her to do her best to find a starting point on the road to forgiveness. She welled up with tears and you can see the pain that controls her life. And I believe that God began to show her that SHE CAN overcome that pain, those emotions…and she can forgive…even though it may take YEARS to do so…she CAN do it!
It’s amazing how pain and hurt, when left untouched, can build up inside of us and begin to build a wall that cannot seem to be taken down. Do you have a wall surrounding you that was built by people that wounded you, that hurt you, that pained you? Today I saw a girl that has gone through great pain and great anguish begin to see that God loves her and wants her to share his love and forgiveness with everyone, including this one person that took something so precious away from her.
I am not so naive to think that when she left church she automatically forgave this woman. I didnt ask her to, but I did ask her to be real with herself and God and admit she’s still in pain…she still hurts. I asked her, as well as all of the others to reach inside of them and forgive the unforgiveable sins in their lives as far as they thought they could possibly do…and then let God take care of the rest.
I dont think that you and I have the power to completely forgive. But I certainly believe that God does. We certainly dont have the capacity to forget the pain that wells inside of us. But that is where God’s grace…God’s mercy…God’s love takes over. If there is something in your life that you think cannot be forgiven…if there’s someone in your life that you struggle, even dread or are unwilling to forgive…can you find a starting point on the road of healing? Can you admit to yourself and to God that you need Him to finish what you are incapable of doing…forgive the unforgiveable?
God’s love was made available for EVERYONE. Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
It will take time. It will require tears. It will take courage. But it can happen! You can overcome your pain. You can make it! I think it’s time for you, me and others to not let pain control our lives!
Think about it.
3 Comments
November 18, 2008 at 5:37 am
For the longest time I carried around the anger and rage for my dad leaving my mother, sister, and I. The lack of forgiveness only made me miserable inside, which of course, lead to me to getting into all kinds of trouble. It wasn’t untill I dedicated my life to Christ and turned it all over to Him that God was able to work in my life. I cried like a baby but I forgave my father, this might sound a little crazy but in that instant all my hate, all my anger was immediately gone, and hasn’t been back. Although it still hurts and I don’t think the sadness will ever go away, but I had to forgive him, and I’ve never been happier.
November 19, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Kallie has dealt with this a bunch in the last couple of years. I think that you will never forget the pain, but you can forgive it. It’s amazing, like you said, how when you turn it over to God that you can find that extra grace, mercy, and love that you dont seem to be able to find on your own. God is so good.
David…thank you for your honesty. And for being my friend!
November 20, 2008 at 3:13 am
I think having young kids of my own has really brought up a flood of emotions for me over the past couple of yrs. Mostly sadness and loneliness, but I continue to call on my heavenly father for comfort. Maybe having kids has done the same to Kallie.