Stepping Stones: Wound Salve: Forgiveness

Transformational Tip

We all experience setbacks and disappointments in life. Sometimes small ones that we shrug off, learn from, and move on. But sometimes disappointments have more impact. They stay with us, causing the past to haunt our present…and future.

The setback could be anything; bankruptcy…a failed marriage…termination from a job…a poor decision…a friendship gone sour. Or it might be losing a parent at a young age. Or the death of a spouse or someone else we cared for deeply. Rejection, by parents, teachers, peers, the popular group, a crush, employers…
whether small or large…tend to inflict wounds. Unless really processed…who can really do that as a young kid…will periodically be opened and ooze when we encounter present day wounds, either in our lives or noticing them in others or in media.

A natural tendency when we have suffered a wound is to place blame. Perhaps we hold another person responsible. Sometimes we blame ourselves. We might even get angry with God. Anger is OK, bitterness, revenge, helplessness are not. These are a few signs that forgiveness hasn’t taken place.

God has promised us a future and a hope, but unforgiveness can block our ability to experience all the freedom and healing, from past wounds and their insidious ripples, that He has planned for us. As long as we are unwilling to forgive, the disappointment of the past has control over our lives, and we cannot move forward.

Today, focus on forgiving those who have hurt you…It's also time to forgive yourself. God has so don’t be so prideful to think you could never forgive yourself. It's time to open our hearts to the love and forgiveness of our heavenly Father. And then it will be time to move on to the wonderful plans he has for you.
Click here to share with the Stepping Stones community your perspective on the gift of forgiveness.

Prayer
Father, help me to truly put the past behind and look forward to what lies ahead. Thank You for forgiving my sins. Help me to walk in the gift of forgiveness…for others and myself. Help to search those past wounds with different lenses of an adult, growing in the knowledge and skills of Christ. Guide my learning from them and application to produce the good works, inside and outside that you have prepared me for, even through those past wounds. I pray this hrough the one who gave his life to have my sins forgiven, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:13-14
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Acts 26:18