“Forgiveness allows us to let go of the pain in the memory and if we let go of the pain in the memory we can have the memory but it does not control us. When memory controls us we are then the puppets of the past.” – Alexandra Asseily
As we quickly approach the end of 2015, I want to challenge those of us that are harboring unforgiveness to take responsibility and use the keys we were born with to unlock our minds from the self-imposed prisons we placed them in.
Don’t you know that when you harbor unforgiveness, you actually are adding sickness to your life? Unforgiveness is classified in medical books as a disease. According to Dr. Steven Standiford, chief of surgery at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, refusing to forgive makes people sick and keeps them that way. This could definitely explain why some people are more apt to fight off sickness quicker than others. Our bodies are designed to heal themselves but when we allow foreign matters to enter them, we relinquish that power.
Understanding this, then why is it that it is so hard to forgive? Could it be because of what we think forgiveness is about versus what it really is about?
Some think that when we forgive, we are actually condoning what the person did that wronged us. I’d like to propose that it is actually about releasing you from the string of emotions you’re processing daily in your mind by “owning” this situation and replaying it over and over and over. Letting it go frees you.
Some think that forgiving means you’ve caved in but in essence, you’ve taken the right (high) road and trusted God to fight your battles. In Exodus 14:14 Moses tells the children of Israel, “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Nothing is as powerful as allowing your faith in God to go the distance. God is all knowing and all powerful. He loves us so much that He won’t allow anything to happen to you that you weren’t designed to handle, so be still (so you can hear His voice clearly) and trust Him to be God all by himself.
Some think that forgiving means that you’re admitting your anger wasn’t legitimate. No. I’d like to suggest that you’ve realized unforgiveness (hatred) stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses (Proverbs 10:12), so though your anger may have been legitimate, it’s not worth allowing it to change your outlook and cause strife throughout your day. When we’re upset, it affects how we see things. Someone can make a positive comment and our mind will allow us to misconstrue it and it becomes negative and we now are adding more drama to our drama filled life. Please, stop the madness.
It’s time to change how you see things.
Be intentional about how you see forgiveness. Allow it to teach you the growth lessons you need to learn so that you can handle whatever is next in your life. With the love of God, remember you are more than a conqueror over any situation. You were born to win.
