The Sweet Relief of Forgiving
Probably our journey of forgiveness will be impossible unless we realize we cannot do it alone. We are not the source of our healing. Truly the kingdom of God is within us as Jesus told us. But that kingdom is God’s presence, and we need God’s help to experience that inner glory.
As with any deep healing and release, the empowered mercy of God within and around us is ours to claim. We must face the facts: we are vulnerable (woundable); we have been hurt; we need to name our hurt and our deep needs as clearly and fully as we can.
Little can change until we have faced where we actually are.
—Flora Slosson Wuellner
Forgiveness, the Passionate Journey
There is such sweet relief to experience in letting go of hurts and forgiving those who’ve hurt us. But this may be the most difficult task we face when we’ve been deeply hurt. There’s no minimizing the fact that being wronged hurts us. We are, as the devotional thought says, ‘Woundable.’ Bringing this hurt to Jesus, honestly pouring out our pain before Him, is a key step on the path to forgiveness and healing. Forgiving is not something we can muster in our own strength. We need the Lord’s grace to truly forgive and move forward. By holding onto the pain, though, we’re only hurting ourselves more. Freedom comes in letting go and letting God bring healing and hope into the situation. As the thought above concludes: Little can change until we’ve faced where we are. The Good News is, God meets you there. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics