Forgiving isn't saying it was okay. It's setting yourself down from a weight you were never meant to carry forever.
“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
When you need to forgive someone
Forgiveness isn't pretending it didn't hurt. It's choosing not to carry it forever.
Forgiving isn't saying it was okay. It's setting yourself down from a weight you were never meant to carry forever.
“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
We forgive from a place of having been forgiven.
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
Seventy times seven - forgiveness that keeps going.
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Forgiveness flows both ways.
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Prayer is a good place to start letting go.
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
Forgiveness spoken in the middle of the deepest hurt.
Lord, they hurt me and part of me doesn't want to let it go. Give me the strength to forgive, even if I have to choose it again tomorrow. Heal the wound they left, and free me from carrying it. Amen.