Letting Go When it Hurts

Letting Go When it Hurts

Have you ever being hurt or let down? Have someone wronged you so much that you find it very difficult to forgive him or her and let go the wrong?

If you've ever been hurt, heartbroken, wronged, tortured, persecuted, disappointed, abused or used; then you are not alone.

God's greatest Gift to the world, Jesus Christ, went through all this, and even more than you can ever imagine. The people He came to save (that is you and I) misinterpreted His good intentions and words, we didn't believe in Him, we called Him a devil, we arrested Him as a criminal, we spanked Him, slapped Him, spat on Him, mocked Him, lashed Him, placed a heavy cross on His already broken and bleeding body, and finally crucified Him.

Friends, it will have been a just deed for the Son of Man to have repaid us according to our deeds. But against what His tattered broken body and soul might have been wishing for, He pronounced forgiveness on Adam's race. His words; "...Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34), will ever make all the intelligent beings in the universe of God to wonder at such amazing love. And friends, this is the greatest example of self - denial that the people of God are called to learn and practice in their daily living. To forgive, when the beneficiaries of this grace do not show any remorse for their wicked actions against you; to forgive, when your whole body and soul tell you don't do it; this is a most difficult action. But this is exactly what we are called to do as Disciples of Christ.

From Matthew 6:14-15, we read these clear words from our Saviour: "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." The lifestyle that Christ expects from us actually goes beyond mere forgiveness. In Mathew 5:43-45, the Saviour proclaims: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." From the apostle we read a similar message on forgiveness: "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not… Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:14, 17-21).

My dear friend, I’m not saying having to do this is easy. But I’m saying it's possible through the grace of Christ. And that God expects us to forgive those who have hurt us even as He has forgiven us: for this is the highest standard we are called to emulate from our Saviour and Lord, Christ Jesus.

Beloved, are you willing to let go that terrible wrong action against you? Are you willing to forgive that fellow who terrible shattered your life and your dreams? Are you willing to forgive the one who used and abused you, and finally broke your heart? Are you willing to forgive that mother or father who never cared whether you were dead or alive and now is seeking reconciliation when you no more need his services?

Beloved, may the good Lord who first forgave us, give each one of us the needed grace to follow His supreme example of forgiveness.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Samuel Nyarko