Tag: <span>forgiving others</span>


When others have deeply hurt and betrayed us, may we find it in our hearts to forgive as God forgives,


I do not write this lightly, I’ve lived it and learned (slowly at times) that the way we forgive people who have deeply hurt us is nowhere close to the forgiveness with which God forgives us.

As I have repeatedly read the story of Joseph’s reconciliation (Genesis 37-50) with his brothers, I have been moved each time by the deep compassion and mercy he extended to his brothers. He taught us a valuable and beautiful lesson on forgiveness.

We don’t know how long it took him to reach that level of forgiveness after his brothers plotted to murder him, tossed him into a pit, and then sold him into slavery. In my personal opinion, I doubt it was early on because the hurt was so fresh and deep at that time. Maybe it was a work God accomplished in his heart through a slow and gradual process over the many years he was falsely imprisoned.

Maybe it was when he was released from prison and saw the enormous responsibility and position God had placed him in. Maybe his heart was opened then to a deeper understanding of God’s ways, as He learned God’s assignment for him was to save the people from famine.

Whenever it was that the healing work of forgiveness took place in Joseph’s heart, I am thankful that he obediently humbled himself and allowed God to bring this about in him. I have seen many people resist God’s work of forgiveness in their lives, and the result is always bitterness. Sometimes it is a very evident, outwardly visible root of bitterness. Sometimes it is a hidden, pushed down, denied form of bitterness, and yet it still spills forth in the life of the unforgiving person.

The evidence of genuine forgiveness was displayed when Joseph was reunited with his brothers and he didn’t condemn them.  He wept and cried and assured them that what they meant for evil, God meant for good. He took care of them and re-established relationship with them.

When others have deeply hurt and betrayed us, may we find it in our hearts to forgive as God forgives, as God taught Joseph to forgive, and as Stephen forgave those who stoned him (Acts 6 and 7). Stephen’s story is compelling beyond words. With his dying breath, he forgave those who were taking his life.

Following the example of Joseph, Stephen, and Jesus Christ, may we hold no charge against our offenders and betrayers and toss their offense ‘as far as the east is from the west’ (Psalm 103:12). God wants us to give mercy to others as He has been merciful to us. He wants us to forgive as we have been forgiven.

Colossians 3:12b-13 teaches us to put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission
From: First Breath of Morning: Where God Waits For You Every Day.

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Further Reading

•   Feelings, Forgiveness and Peace | by Dr. Muriel Larson

•  Freedom of Forgiveness  | by Katherine Kehler

•  Salvation Explained


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thoughts by Kathy Cheek Thoughts by Women


Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.Colossians 3:12-13   

The forgiveness we do not give, the forgiveness we withhold— will hold us back in our relationship with the Lord and the plans He has for us.

Unforgiveness will become a stumbling block in our walk with the Lord and with others. It doesn’t matter if the person receives it, and it doesn’t matter if the person does or does not acknowledge wrong doing.

Forgiveness is about our heart letting go instead of staying in bondage to that circumstance.  Forgiveness isn’t about changing the offender. It is about a change in us.

When we fully forgive, we will stop playing the same tape in our head, going over and over the wrong committed against us. When we stop playing that tape over and over again, life will become fuller and richer and the past pain will noticeably subside, leaving us wishing we had granted ourselves this freedom much sooner.

God is the ultimate healer and when we forgive and let go, He comes in with His balm of healing and tender care and does a work on our wounds that will truly change our lives. This change will take us to a place of continued and complete healing.

When you hear yourself saying this is too hard, ask yourself – is it too hard for God? Does God want you to stay stuck living in that pain, and living in that past that is keeping you from living today and embracing the future with hope?

Unforgiveness is the precise reason we can’t get past the pain. Letting go and moving past the pain will bring you peace and peace will bring you a new and fresh outlook on life as you discover a joy in your heart that you have not known before.

In the strength of the Lord, you can forgive and let go, you can heal and move forward in complete wholeness.

Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

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FURTHER READING

Feelings, Forgiveness and Peace | by Dr. Muriel Larson

The Power of Forgiveness | by Dr. Henry Brandt

How to Experience God’s Love and Forgiveness (3 parts)


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thoughts by Kathy Cheek Thoughts by Women