Sixty-eight days…

Recently I have had a blatant reminder of a situation that once made me feel angry.  Not the screaming, yelling, red-in-the-face kind of anger, but the anger that eats you up inside a little at time.  It’s the worst kind, and I don’t recommend it. Thankfully, The Lord has healed me of that anger, but now sadness has set in regarding the outcome of what took place.  At this point, I’m not willing to share what happened, but I will tell you that when you are surrounded with circumstances you cannot avoid, when you feel as if you were wronged, and your wounds haven’t healed, it can be dangerous.  Holding on to hurt brings about bondage, but there is freedom in forgiveness.

I sometimes still grieve what happened, but God is clearly breathing new life and new beginnings.  I have no idea why things happen the way they do sometimes, but I do know that God is able to heal every hurt.  Even hurts that have been personally afflicted by people who’ve made wrong choices.

The other day I was sitting in church.  We worship in a small gymnasium.  In the front of the room there is a large white wall.  There is a small section on the wall that has a muddy imprint of a soccer ball.  The ball was dirty, and someone kicked it.  When it hit the wall it left the perfect image of the ball.  Sometimes we feel as if we’ve been kicked, and the impression seems lasting.  It doesn’t have to be that way.  Christ forgives us; surely we can forgive.  Forgiveness brings about freedom, it leads to blessing, it fulfills purpose, and renews hope.  Forgiveness of God’s children is a pure and beautiful act of worship unto a God Who literally gave up His son as ransom on the cross for us.

I want to end today’s post with Ephesians 4:32.  It’s one of my very favorite scriptures.

Ephesians 4:32

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.  (N.K.J.V.)

Amen and Amen!