Have you been hurt by someone close to you? Do you find it difficult to extend forgiveness? We can’t stop people from hurting us — after all, we’re human. We may think we are punishing them by withholding forgiveness. The irony of it all is you end up getting punished when you hold back forgiveness from others.

God stands here with his arms open wide forgiving me and you. At the same time, we feed our heads with totally different messages. They do not deserve my forgiveness. They have not been punished enough. They will be let off the hook if I forgive them.

Our Purchase Price

The price God paid to forgive me and you was…priceless. God chose to use His Son as a sacrifice to wipe out the world’s sin. Gone. Into the sea of forgetfulness. As far as the east is from the west. There is no way possible you or I could ever pay God back for just one sin not to mention a lifetime of sins. Knowing this, forgiveness takes on a whole new meaning, doesn’t it?

When we do not forgive it is like telling God “Your forgiveness and your sacrifice was not good enough for me. I need something greater.” Really? You would tell that to the God of the universe?

My Own Struggles with Forgiveness

I just recently struggled with forgiveness. It ate at my heart and consumed my thoughts. I was willing to sacrifice a relationship so I did not have to forgive. In essence, I was telling God that I was big enough to wear His shoes and make his decisions. Boy was I wrong. I continued to pray. It wasn’t a special prayer or a long prayer. I just prayed that I needed help with forgiveness. With each prayer, God melted my heart to the point that it was able to be molded by Him and not hardened like a rock.

God also used that time to remind me of what forgiveness from Him looked like in my life. During the manically wild 20’s and the poor-pitiful-me 30’s, God covered me with His loving mercy and forgiveness. With all that forgiveness, how could I not forgive?

The Prodigal Son

Below is a link to the parable of the Prodigal Son in the Bible. A perfect display of God’s love and forgiveness.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+15%3A11-32

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While I was in the throes of an out-of-control manic episode, I had little to do with God. Going to church was very sporadic and when I did go, I felt so fake and exposed. I just wanted to hide because I was afraid of what Jesus thought of me.  I did not think there was any forgiveness left for me.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were afraid and hid. They deliberately turned their backs on what God instructed them to do and they did not remember the beautiful relationship they had with their loving Father. After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, God called out to them, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). Adam responded, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10).  Adam did not think he could taste God’s forgiveness after eating the forbidden fruit.

Sin exposes us and separates us from God. We do not need to hide from God in shame or fear like Adam and Eve did in the garden. He loves us. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  Talk about the ultimate forgiveness!

Whatever you are going through, whether you are on an alcoholic binge, a shopping spree that makes your bank account overdrawn, or yelling at your kids because you had a bad day, do not hide from Jesus in fear. He is there to listen to you, offer you forgiveness and welcome you with open arms.

I would love to hear your God forgiveness story. Send me an email sharing how God forgave you and how you accepted His forgiveness at [email protected].

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