Need to forgive anyone? I can hear you groaning. Forgiveness doesn’t feel fair and honestly, it’s not. You might think, “If I forgive the person who hurt me, that means they are off the hook, and I want justice.” I understand. Our human nature cries for justice. It’s just plain old right that you get what you deserve.  If you break the rules and you get punished, right? Here’s the thing, forgiveness sets you free and not your offender. When you forgive someone it means they no longer have power over you because you’ve let the offense go. It can no longer haunt you. After Joseph’s father, Jacob, died, his brothers started freaking out. Will Joseph pay us back for all the crimes we committed against him? (Genesis 50:14-21) In fear, they asked Joseph to forgive them. Was their apology genuine? Who knows? Joseph makes one of the most profound statements ever recorded. He says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.” You see, here is the promise for those who forgive, God takes the very evil that was done to you and turns it around and uses it for good, both in your life and in the lives of others. I know. I’ve watched it happen in my own life. When I chose to forgive the man who sexually abused me as a child, he didn’t go free, I did.  I now have seen God turn that evil around and use it for good. God now uses my story to bring hope to many women. If you forgive, trusting God with justice, and placing your hurt in HIs Almighty hands, watch and see the good He will bring about in your life!

I know forgiveness is a sensitive topic. I would love your comments!

If you’d like to read more about my journey to forgive, you will find it in Rewriting Your Emotional Script.