HOW HURTING TURNS INTO FORGIVENESS
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
I can remember a time during my teenage years when I felt my heart break. It was my sixteenth birthday and I waited all day long for my dad to call, to remember me, to hear him say happy birthday. As the hours stepped on, I held out hope, assured he would call. I watched the phone like a hawk. When the day was gone and time for bed rolled around, there was still no call. He had forgotten my birthday. My heart broke! Sadness and disappointment spilled over me like ice-cold water and my heart turned angry, resentful and bitter towards him. How could he forget?
For years I carried that question filled with anger in my heart.
Then one day in desperation I cry out “I forgive him Lord! Please help my wounded heart heal from this darkness”. The peace of the Lord filled my heart beyond understanding and I was honestly able to forgive my dad. I needed to step out in faith by saying out loud that I forgive him.
Sometimes our hearts burn with wanting to forgive but we are too afraid to step out in faith. Bound up in our past, hurtful words creates deep wounds in the hearts of women all over the world. Jesus Christ died for us so that we would have forgiveness and therefore freedom from our past, wrongdoings and mistakes. You my beautiful sister have been completely forgiven for all in your life. You and I are now free to forgive without fear, condemnation and judgment. Do not allow your freedom to be stolen from you with lies from the devil. You are free! Free! Step out today and take a leap of faith. I believe that the Lord through his Holy Spirit will give you the faith to say “I forgive”, no more resentment, no more holding on to pain. You will be set free from the wound in your heart if you trust the Lord more than you fear the pain. Jesus will set those wounds free. I believe that everyone can do this because I believe in the power of our Savior Jesus Christ. Who through Him you and I have been set free. So why not then surrender the pain in your heart for His healing touch. If you do this the peace of the Lord will pour into those dark places and set you free. His sweet Redemption you will experience.
2 Corinthians 12:19 says “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
In our weakness the Lord is made strong. When unfortunate circumstances, struggle and pain happen to us, we get to experience Jesus in a much deeper way.
Step out today! Take the leap of faith, trust and cry out.
Jesus will heal your heart!
Written by: Ilonka Deaton 2012