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 and a husband, I've seen firsthand the weight of past hurts and the struggle to forgive. Forgiveness is not about forgetting, but about not holding someone's sin against them. It's a process, not an event, and it requires practice to perfect. We may have to renew our commitment to forgive when feelings of resentment or bitterness well up within us. The cost of forgiveness is not to be taken lightly. It's not just about letting go of our anger, but also about recognizing the wounds that have led us to hurt others. As the saying goes, "hurt people hurt people." We accumulate painful memories that we carry implicitly in our bodies, and tragically, we often pass them on to those closest to us. Forgiveness requires us to confront our own wounds and to take responsibility for our actions. For me, forgiveness is not just about my relationship with my spouse or my children, but also about my relationship with God. Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace, and it comes at a cost - the Cross of Christ. To forgive sin, while remaining a holy God, this price had to be paid. As I reflect on my own journey with forgiveness, I'm reminded that it's not just about forgiving others, but also about forgiving myself and acknowledging my own sins and weaknesses.
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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