Hurt by others ...

Thursday, April 16, 2015. Do you know the feeling when you are hurt by some other person whom you have trusted? Life is not always easy, there are those things, events or words, where someone we thought he or she would be collaborative or nice turns out to be non-collaborative and not nice, putting it mildly. We can be quite heavily hurt by other people.

What about forgiveness? …

I had that recently, within our local church. It would not be good to talk about details, but I realize how strongly it influences my attitude and way to work with the church - with other people, but more than that with the institution as a whole. If I could, I would run away, but I cannot - I have a responsible role and need to find a way to convert my pain into something good.

I suppose that you see things much clearer from a remote viewpoint. Clearly forgiveness needs to be established. In Jesus, forgiveness is the leading thought and leading idea of Christian faith. In him we are forgiven. In him, God reconciles mankind with himself. In Jesus, we have truth and love combined, we have an open door into heaven.

I would like to put it up as guiding thought for myself, that his power will allow us to completely reconcile the situation. This did not yet happen, there will be further conversations in a mediated way. But I already now want to establish my own forgiveness. You, who hurt me, you are forgiven! I decide to put full forgiveness in action this moment - the same type of forgiveness which he has exercised towards us. It does not come from my power, but only from his power. I feel weak and hurt. It can only be him! He will not let us down.

Forgiveness is possible! …

Lu 11:4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” Col 2:13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

It can be quite some way to get your own wounds to heal and your own feelings to move in the right direction. We should not say easily “just forgive” and go back into routine. It is some work. It needs faith. And indeed, it is an experience with the power of God in our life, if forgiveness truly works.

But wounds can heal, and his power helps us to move into the right direction. He helps us with a mighty hand - when we open our eyes we can observe it in the events which happen to us today. It is a first step, to say “you are forgiven”, and to decide “you are forgiven”, and to practice “you are forgiven” … and experience that you are truly forgiven, that it becomes a reality, a wonderful reality and fantastic basis for the next steps, for a continuing relationship and a truly good future. (RWEP) ... more texts