Forgiveness and Love

There was a woman in my life and our relationship was not good.

It wasn’t that she was a bad person, we just didn’t get along.

To make matters worse, she did and said some things that were really hurtful.

In situations like that, what do you do?

I had a choice to make, I could stay upset, sit in my anger and let it turn into bitterness

Or

I could forgive her.

I made the choice to forgive her, but that didn’t automatically transform the relationship.

Something else was needed.

Ephesians 4:32 NKJV

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

When I was younger I was taught that forgiveness meant feeling differently toward the person.

I had forgiven this woman, but my feelings were still the same.

The verse we just read talks about forgiveness, but it talks about something else too.

Kindness.

I didn’t want to be around her, didn’t want to talk to her, didn’t want to be kind.

It was then that I was given some advice that I want to share with you.

I was told to pray that God would love her through me.

So that’s what I did.

I had forgiven her

but

I couldn’t love her

It wasn’t until I prayed this prayer, more than once, that my attitude started to change.

Looking back I realize that praying this prayer was a continual choice to forgive and not let bitterness creep back in.

If you have someone you are struggling to forgive, pray that God would love them through you.

As you do that, you will find that God gives the ability to forgive.