When our van was vandalized and our electronics were taken about a week and a half ago, I realized that I had a choice to make. I could cling to the hurt and resentment of being robbed and let it destroy my happiness and poison my view of humanity, or I could release it and take away the power of the criminal to hurt me. If I held onto the hurt and allowed it to make me bitter, I would continue to hurt. This would imprison me, not them.
No, I wanted to move forward. I had a valid reason to be angry, but I wasn't going to dwell on it. It was not going to consume me and be an open wound. The only way to heal the bruise is to forgive and let it go.
Once I forgave, God restored double my joy. Not only was all my stuff replaced by my wonderful husband, but I have better things now.
"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." ~ John 20:23
Do we really want to hold on to the wrongs someone did to us? If we do, we remain a prisoner to it. We remain hurt when Jesus was sent "to announce release to the captives...to send forth as delivered those are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity]" according to Luke 4:18. It's frustrating trying to get back at someone who did us wrong. We need to let go of the baggage so our happiness can be restored. Joel Osteen says, "If you will let go of the hurts and pains and get on God's payroll, God will settle your case. He will make your wrongs right. He will bring justice into your life. You will get what you deserve, and God will pay you back with double the joy, double the peace, double the favor, and double the victory."
What more could we possibly want?
Love and Light,
2 comments:
Beautiful Patty! Forgiveness is everything and bitterness is the enemy of the soul. I love this post, you use what happened to you to illustrate, using your relationship with the Lord, and scripture this great truth. Love you! Libby
Thanks, Libby! ;)
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