Spiritual guidance powered by AI and grounded in Scripture
Your Question:
Can forgiveness truly set us free from the weight of our past when we've been hurt deeply?
Answer:
As a pastor, I've seen firsthand the weight of past hurts that can burden people's lives. When we've been deeply hurt, it's easy to get stuck in resentment and bitterness. But forgiveness is an act of self-defense, a way to stop the fatal bleeding of resentment. It's not about forgetting what's happened, but about not holding it against the person who's wronged us. Forgiveness is a process, not an event. It takes practice to perfect, and it's not always easy. We may need to renew our commitment to forgive multiple times, especially when feelings of resentment or bitterness well up within us. But forgiveness is a divine miracle of grace, one that costs us nothing but requires us to let go of our hatred and choose to release the offender from our judgment. As I reflect on my own experiences and those of others, I believe that forgiveness is closely tied to our woundedness. When we've been hurt, we often carry that pain with us and pass it on to those closest to us. But true forgiveness involves acknowledging and repudiating our sin, as well as turning towards God. It's only when we humble ourselves, acknowledge our sins, and turn from them that our sins are erased. Forgiveness by God is not automatic, and it requires us to repent and come before Him with a broken and contrite heart.
Sources:
introduction biblical ethics
robertson mcquilkin
my utmost for his highest
oswald chambers
sacred marriage
gary thomas
psalms
tremper longman
practicing the way
john mark comer
2 corinthians
colin kruse
acts
r c sproul
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