In my brief 36 years on this earth, I've experienced some things that some people will never experience. These things run the gamut from physical abuse at the hands of a "man", abuse of friendships, shattered trust, affair of a spouse, death of a spouse, job loss, etc. And thru all of that, I can PROMISE you my Faith is the one and only thing that has sustained me. For someone to question my faith or my status as a Christian is just truly insane. And for in that same breath to have someone quote selective scripture to me is just further confirmation of the extremeness of the situation. The only selective scripture I'd like to use in return is this:
Matthew 7:3-5 (New International Version) 3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
The scripture quoted to me was:
Mark 11:25-26 (New International Version) 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Believe me when I say I know the depths that harboring unforgiveness will take you and I also know the liberation, release and freedom from reaching a point of forgiveness too.
First, I'd like to offer some wisdom I read regarding the scripture in Mark. It's an excerpt From Nancy Missler, King's High Way
Unconditionally Forgiving Others
"It goes without saying, however, that we must continue to be wise and always seek God's will. One woman I know went to a friend who had hurt her and told her that she forgave her for what she had done. Well, the accused lady was horrified because she was not even aware that there was a problem. Thus, the woman's verbal forgiveness did more harm than good and drove a wedge even deeper into their relationship. The general rule is: If you are at fault in a situation, always seek God's will as to whether or not He wants you to go and ask forgiveness of the other person. If the other person is at fault, unconditionally forgive them and lay it down at the cross. Don't go and tell them that you forgive them. It only makes matters worse, especially if the person involved wasn't even aware there was a problem to begin with (as in the above incident). Just take care of the matter between you and the Lord and then, go on and love them wisely with God's Love."
I've experienced that similar situation on the receiving end of the forgiveness and maybe you have too. In my case, no words had even been exchanged yet this person was harboring anger towards me over their perception of events. It's important to remember that people's perception becomes their reality! I was truly appalled by the forgiveness being offered to me and it only made the situation worse.
I plan to continue this later this week and hopefully this will help just one person who may be dealing with a difficult situation. I'd like to leave you with one last bit of wisdom I read by Nancy Pina
"You can forgive others and maintain personal integrity. Forgiveness does not mean relationships must be completely restored or that you won’t feel angry about an offense directed at you. The important issue is to forgive the person for their action; the action itself is what offended you. Forgiveness is a difficult road to undertake and takes dedication and focus. To rid your life of negative emotions and unproductive anger ask God to help you and surrender your anger to Him. By clinging to anger it is unwittingly projected onto people who have not hurt you, defeating your relationship quest from the onset. Forgiveness provides freedom to live in peace and the ability to positively change." I pray as you have read this it has helped in even a small way towards making steps towards forgiveness and living a victorious life, free of BOB (Bondage Of Bitterness)! John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." |
