What is FORGIVENESS, anyway?

“FORGIVENESS IS:

…giving the people and circumstances that wronged you, over to the Lord’s very capable hands and giving Him permission to handle them (people & circumstances) as He sees fit on His perfect time table and TRUSTING that justice will be served WITHOUT second-guessing His loyalty to you, as a child of God…”

-TM Shelton

I used to think that forgiving my “offenders” meant FORGETTING the trespass and PRETENDING like nothing ever happened…

Actually, true forgiveness, is acknowledging the trespass with GOD FIRST…

When we do this, we give room for Him to lead and soften hearts on BOTH SIDES in preparation of the conversation we must have with the one(s)/ circumstance(s) that wronged/ hurt us.

I have noticed in some of my own personal experiences, that my Father (God) will usually bring conviction (not condemnation) to BOTH sides… meaning, He shows me where I could have handled things differently…(ouch!).

Now, Im not saying that softening happens with n every circumstance and when it does, some circumstances require TIME…

Some things can be forgiven immediately, on both sides. But sometimes, not so much…

Sometimes FORGIVENESS is WAITING…we hear over & over again how IMPORTANT His timing is…

I know that for me, forgiveness can be a slower process in big circumstances…& if I’m being honest, in some of the small ones too…BUT…

Gods Word does NOT tell us to stop and think about what we want Him to do to punish people…

It DOES tell us to TRUST HIM. It DOES tell us to PRAY about EVERYTHING without CEASING…

It DOES tell us that VENGEANCE BELONGS TO HIM…(as hard as that is to handle in our humanity)…

I have often found that as soon as I “let go” of that circumstance and take my hands (and mind) OFF that scenario, I notice that out of His faithfulness & love for ME, He takes the time to reassure me that I’m LOVED and PROTECTED and….HEALED…mentally, spiritually, physically, emotionally…

HOW? WHY?

Because HE. IS. MY. DEFENDER & REAR-GUARD. He goes BEFORE ME. He SURROUNDS me…

And, here’s the kicker…in the waiting, He reveals layers of MYSELF that are reactive to circumstances because they are areas I haven’t GIVEN to HIM yet…

With that being said, today, ask Him to reveal your “reactive” areas. Lay them at the altar and ask Him to HEAL those places. TRUST His process. Trust Him with YOURSELF…and with THEM…