Story Time

Is Forgiving Worth it to You?

    I’m impressed to share how God touched me with the answer to this question.

    I was in a struggle. It was one of those days when everything you thought you’d gotten over in the past comes flooding back over you, wanting to make you bitter; along with a fresh batch of hurts on top. Have you ever been in that place, where the devil tries to talk you out of forgiving this time? It’s almost like a physical choice. You know you need to forgive; have to forgive; deep down you want to forgive. But this time it looks easier, and somehow self-satisfying just to hold on to it! Revenge. Withdrawal. Forget people. However, there’s more to life. I sought the Lord throughout the day, needing power once again; but peace was not found. 

    In the night I had a dream.

My Dad was dying. We all gathered home to say goodbye. The funeral was in a smaller room, mostly family and a few friends and neighbors. The rest of the crowd was in a different room, a huge room. Many, many people. This funeral was different. Dad was still alive. Very feeble and sick, but very much with it. He was comforting us all. It was opened up for both assemblies to bring memories. Many people told how Dad had shown them love, reached out to them, helped them out financially, been a friend. The love in that setting was incredible!

    I began to think of the many times my dad was wronged and what he’d done with it. If he’d chosen, just one of those times, to hold onto it; to never get over it; where would we as a family be now? How may of the people would have the same testimony as they brought now? Think of what we would have missed!

    I woke up with tears streaming down my face. I began to think about Jesus. The song came to me, “Jesus our friend, forgives again and again. He knows all our needs, and how sinful we’ve been.” 

And the verse came to me, (Mathew 6:14-15) “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”