We often talk, teach and embrace the fact that Jesus forgave me and how great and awesome that is. And sometimes it stops right there.

Let me tell you it does not stop there. The scripture tell us that we are to forgive as well. Jesus us tells us in His “model” prayer that Mat 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”In ministry I have had to plead with spouses who have been betrayed, family members left behind by the untimely death of a loved one or those who have been wounded deeply by others, to seek the Lord that they might forgive. Forgiveness is often not forgetting (though I pray for an anointed forgetter!), but rather agreeing to forgive and letting the Lord handle it. I have often shared the analogy of taking the person who has hurt me off my puny fish hook and placing them and the issue on God’s hook. The Lord tells us vengeance is His, so I am content in how he handles it will be a far better way than I might.

A few years ago I hired a contractor to do some work for me. His shoddy workmanship lead to my house having 6 inches of water in the lower living area with in 24 hours. It never got better or resolved and we spent tens of thousands fixing what w could. But last November we had to move out because I developed a breathing issue because of the mold that had developed. 7 years we had owned our home on the mountain and over night I had to move downtown into an apartment. This was an opportunity to “hate” but the Lord got me early on about the need to forgive this man and his lack of integrity. Was it easy? Honestly, once I got past saying the words, “I forgive him,” the pressure was off.

A few years before that a man who had been my friend for years took me over the coals to the tune of $50,000. I know it irritates my family and friends to think that I would not say a word to him. He is on God’s hook.

Look to the Lord and invite Him into your hurt, your betrayal, your injury. His grace is sufficient for you.