How much of our lives do we spending either hurting others or healing from the pain of hurt.  Sadly, we hurt those we love the most more often.  Each time it happens to me, I want to crawl under a rock, and I always cry out to God for wisdom through the valley.  Too bad, I didn’t ask him for guidance before the pain.  I wonder why God allows me down that treacherous road of pain both when I dish it out, and receive it.  What is the lesson I need to learn?  If I believe his word in Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ”  then all this pain will turn to good, so I am able to pick myself back up and walk again because I know he will heal and forgive me even if others choose not to forgive.

We hurt our spouses, we hurt our children, and we hurt our friends with simple words and actions.  We feel we are “right”, but does it really matter if we cause pain or hurt.  Certainly, we feel the pain of hurt from others, and then our only hope is they will be able to see the pain they have caused, but sadly human relationships are messy.  Mankind always want to put their individual pain above others.  Sometimes, I wonder if I could push rewind and hear the words that I just spoke if I would still feel the same.  Do I really hear what I am saying to someone?  Do I really want to know how it made them feel?  And, do they want to know how it made me feel?  These are powerful questions that are hard to find the answers to, but I encourage us all to seek God’s peace.  Scripture reminds me in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  My prayer is for the peace of God to not just guard my heart but plant seeds of peace in my heart.

God knew all this about humans and our inadequacies to love like him.  He knew we would hurt each other and him.  How did he reconcile this pain?  He gave the greatest sacrifice of all his Son to forgive us.  If God can open his heart and sacrifice so much, then forgiveness should be so easy to give especially to those we love.  Ask for forgiveness, give forgiveness, hold no grudge, and open your arms.  Choose God’s peace over the pain and hurt no matter which side you end up on.  Jesus taught us to pray:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”  Matthew 6: 9-13

Closing Verse:  Jesus responds after the Lord’s Prayer in verse 14, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Challenge:  Choose to forgive others no matter the sacrifice just as your Father chose to give his only Son in order bring forgiveness to you.  God promises you will feel the burden lift from you.  Try to stop and put yourself in the place of the person you caused hurt to or who caused you hurt.  The perspective will help you heal.