Forgiveness can be one of the hardest things in life to achieve. Some things are easy to forgive, but some deeds done by others are far harder. Crimes like child abuse, murder and other more serious crimes or deeds done to or against anyone.
We often hear people say they can never forgive a person their deeds, and this is understandable if what is done against them or someone they love is severe, very severe, but by not forgiving them, this doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be punished, they should. Every deed done has to be answered for in this life or the next, maybe even both.
However, forgiving someone sets you free if you really mean it. By holding onto what’s been done to you or another, it destroys you, your peace of mind, your future. Forgiving doesn’t mean you’ll ever forget those deeds done, it just means you’ve left it in the authority’s or various authorities hands to handle and in God’s.
In many cases, we don’t know what drove a person to do the bad things they’ve done. Is it a result of what was done to them growing up, a result of a sick mind, or is it just pure badness and a life choice they made to be that way and do those things?
In some cases we might know or find out why, but in many others we don’t. This is why God tells us not to judge. Yes we can judge their deeds and punish them accordingly, but we should never judge why they did them. What made them become that person.
We often hear or read people saying they hope a person burns in hell forever more, or that they hope something really bad happens to them, or even wish cancers and other bad things on them. How sad it is to hear and read such things; to see such hate, such darkness in one’s heart, mind, body and soul.
For those who say and think such things, they have sunk into the same darkness they accuse others of. They have become no better than those whose deeds have made them feel this way. How much better then to do as God asks, to trust in Him, try hard to forgive and let go. It’s not easy to do, but it is possible if we wish to be as God asks us to be.
By forgiving a person, it sets us free. It means we’re doing as God asks of us. By forgiving, we are letting go of darkness and not letting darkness win. By holding onto hate, we are adding to that darkness. After all, if we’re not prepared to forgive, how can we expect to be forgiven anything we may have done wrong in our lives? Yes, there are different levels of badness, some are milder, some very serious indeed, but forgiving is what makes us the better person.
To hold onto grievances or hate makes us a worse person than we want to be. It can alter our own behaviour turning us into someone we aren’t or don’t want to be. Listen to God, do as He asks of us. Forgive those who trespass against you and leave their outcome in God’s hands.
Trust in authority to get it right and see justice done, but if that doesn’t happen, know that when we all leave this world, justice will be done. God tells us it will and to leave it in His hands. Forgiveness is hard, but those who truly believe in God can find the strength and courage to walk away and know, God will always see justice is done.
Walk away from darkness and don’t add to it. Instead, spread the light of goodness and forgiveness wherever you go, no matter how hard some days that might be to achieve. Trust in God, He will never fail us, even if the world sometimes does.
Deuteronomy 32:35:
