The Power of FORGIVENESS

Many times in life, people will hurt you intentionally and unintentionally. It’s a guaranteed byproduct of living. We often think that forgiveness is a complete erase of what someone has done to you and that it should not hurt anymore. This cannot be farther from the truth. However, forgiveness is a choice that you make to become more like GOD rather than give in to what the world may deem a valid reason to get even. It’s a decision to love unconditionally in spite of the fact that you have been treated directly opposite. Pride is the direct enemy of forgiveness. It puts certain things in your heart that should not be there because it’s a sense of pride and dignity that makes you superior in your eyes. None of us are exempt from a NORMAL life. There has not been a person that ever lived that has not been hurt or chastised. But, growth out of a hurtful situation cannot come if pride has inhabited your mind. Pride will make itself very familiar to you….here’s a recollection of what pride sounds like: “Do they know who I am? Who do they think they are? They must not know where I’m from?” Sound familiar?

One of the best examples of forgiveness in the Bible is the story of Joseph. He had undeniable favor from his father and his brothers hated him because of it. They despised him so much that they planned to kill him. But, this plan did not come about until Joseph told them about a vision GOD gave him. He was to be given dominion over his family in the future. This is when the brothers hate for him turned from a feeling into an actual plan to destroy. Some people hate you and they internalize it, but when they hear about what GOD is doing for you they will try and plot to hurt you the best way they can. GOD is not in the business of blessing you secretly, he wants EVERYONE to know of His goodness and how He can cater to those who serve Him. So hate from the world is a byproduct of the FAVOR OF GOD. None of us are exempt from hate. GOD made good on His promise and put Joseph in a position of power. This is not the most important part of his story. The fact that the vision was manifested was inevitable, but his brothers that planned to kill him but sold him into slavery were now struggling and their blessing was in the hands of the one that they tried to destroy. Joseph had a heart to forgive because the love He had for GOD would not allow revenge to consume his heart. This made him READY to receive what GOD had for him. Don’t let anyone’s actions against you destroy the preparation stages that are necessary for you to grow. GOD wants to take you to higher places and he wants people to see you blessed. HE wants to FLOW through you but cannot do so if you have BLOCKAGE in your heart. Stop holding yourself back! Forgiveness is not only critical for your growth, but it’s absolutely necessary for the growth of those around you. Is the hurt that you feel more important than the place that GOD wants to take you? Is the choice to hold on to things that people have done to you worth letting go of the things that GOD has stored up for you? Your past will always stay in your present until you decide to let it go!

Recommended/Related Readings:

Genesis 37

Psalms 51:10-12

Proverbs 17:9

Matthews 6:14