As a pastor and a husband, I've seen firsthand the power of forgiveness in healing broken relationships and restoring trust. When we believe that we are forgiven, it's like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders. We can finally let go of the resentment and bitterness that's been holding us back, and instead, we can choose to forgive and move forward. This is especially true in marriage, where forgiveness is a daily discipline that requires us to let go of our hurt and anger, and instead, choose to love and forgive our spouse.
Forgiveness is not just about forgetting what's been done to us, but it's about not holding someone's sin against them. When we choose to forgive, we're not condoning or excusing their behavior, but rather, we're choosing to release them from our judgment and our anger. This is an act of self-defense, as Lewis Smedes puts it, a tourniquet that stops the fatal bleeding of resentment. When we forgive, we're not only freeing ourselves from the burden of anger, but we're also allowing God to work in our lives, to bring about spiritual growth and transformation.
As Christians, we know that forgiveness is at the very heart of our faith. It's the foundation for all spiritual growth, and it's the key to experiencing the love and mercy of God. When we forgive, we're not just forgiving others, we're also forgiving ourselves. We're acknowledging that we're not perfect, that we've made mistakes, and that we need God's forgiveness and mercy. Forgiveness is not just something we do for others, but it's also something we do for ourselves, as we learn to let go of our anger and our hurt, and instead, choose to love and forgive.