“Hate stirs up trouble, but LOVE FORGIVES ALL OFFENSES.” (Proverbs 10:12)
Maybe as a child we were hurt by an adult — a teacher, a family member, maybe even our parents. The Bible says that there will be severe judgment for child abuse, neglect, and abandonment; one day God is going to settle the score on that. When God says, “Honor your father and mother,” he’s not saying honor their sins or their selfishness or their poor decisions. He’s not saying ignore the pain in your life and put on a happy face and pretend everything’s great.
Then, what does God expect? HOW DOES HE EXPECT US TO LOVE THE DESTRUCTIVE PEOPLE WHO’VE HURT US?
He doesn’t expect us to ignore it. He’s not asking us to gloss over it or deny it or repress it or make excuses for the people who’ve hurt us.
God doesn’t want us to fake it; he wants you to FACE IT, because WE CAN’T FORGIVE UNTIL WE FACE OUR HURT. We’ve got to stop running, and we’ve got to stop blaming.
If we’re going to become the loving woman or man that God wants us to be, we’re going to have to deal now with the destruction someone’s caused in our past. If we’re still angry with a parent or anybody else, WE’RE STILL ALLOWING THAT PERSON TO CONTROL US.
Don’t allow that any more. we’ve got to deal with the anger. We’ve got to face it before we can forgive it.
Proverbs 10:12 says, “Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses”.
I don’t know who you need to forgive, but I DO KNOW TODAY’S THE DAY. Love lets it go. Love forgives. Because they deserve it? No. BECAUSE IT’S WHAT GOD DID FOR YOU AND ME, and IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO BE FREE.
“But here is what I tell you. Love your enemies. Pray for those WHO HURT YOU.” Then you will be sons of your Father who is in heaven…” (Matt. 5:44, 45)
Be healed by forgiving…Bill Stockham