Counsel #23 — Forgiving When It Hurts

Picture: Counsel #23 — Forgiving When It HurtsCCW 39.1

Forgiving can be difficult when you or someone you love has been hurt. An Irishman wisely said, “Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Forgiveness is about our own healing, it sets us free from anger, resentment, and negativity, restoring our peace of mind. Thinking about what Jesus went through to forgive us transforms our hearts to extend the same grace to others. Forgiveness, however, doesn’t mean we condone immoral or abusive behavior.^{[55]https://www.adventist.org/does-forgive-also-mean-forget/}CCW 39.2

If you’re finding forgiveness difficult, ask God to place it in your heart—He will, if you let Him!CCW 39.3

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14, 15CCW 39.4

“If your brethren err, you are to forgive them. When they come to you with confession, you should not say, I do not think they are humble enough. I do not think they feel their confession. What right have you to judge them, as if you could read the heart? The word of God says, ‘If he repent, forgive him. And if he trespasses against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.’ Luke 17:3, 4 And not only seven times, but seventy times seven—just as often as God forgives you.” Ellen White in Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 249CCW 39.5

Reflect: Have you ever grown weary of forgiving someone? Does God ever tire of forgiving us?CCW 39.6