10/30/2024
IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO
Forgiveness is an act that benefits the forgiver far more than the person(s) being forgiven. Dr. Karen Swartz of the renown John Hopkins Hospital states the following:
"Forgiveness is not just about saying the words. It is an active process in which you make a conscious decision to let go of negative feelings whether the person deserves it or not,”
Did you notice that she said forgiveness is an active process? A process is a series of steps that are taken to achieve a goal.
The word "active" indicates that action should be consistently taken to move forward toward the goal.
Here's the thing . . . certain processes take longer than others. Whereas, some require just a few steps and / or procedures, others may require YEARS of work. The key is to keep taking the necessary steps no matter how long it takes!
Why? Because with every step and act of forgiveness, no matter how small, you get closer to being FREE, healed, and whole.
So, while it is not always easy to do . . . it is possible! AND, it is necessary. Mark 11:25 ERV states the following: "When you are praying and you remember that you are angry with another person about something, forgive that person. Forgive them so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your sins."
==> Once you have forgiven a person . . . do not confuse forgiveness with TRUST. That is something else entirely. ~Selah