Forgiveness causes suffering.
Everyone says that you should forgive because it makes you feel better, but that’s only partly true.
Forgiveness comes with a lot of suffering too.
Suffering because you feel like your losing. Suffering because you feel like you deserve justice. Suffering because the words you may have to say are hard and uncomfortable. Suffering because you have to dig down deep to uncover the real reason for forgiveness. Suffering because you have to recognize the unforgiveness that you have held onto for so long. Suffering because you see your own faults.
Forgiveness is messy.
Messy because you may mess up the facade that nothing is actually wrong. Messy because forgiveness is usually for something in the past and you risk effecting the way someone views time in the past. Messy because there could be a lot of emotions attached to the situation. Messy because digging deep requires dirt and mud to be moved to get real.
But this kind of forgiveness is biblical.
Jesus is the root of forgiveness and why I choose to forgive. He came to earth and suffered. He was beaten and hung on a cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Suffering for forgiveness. His choosing to do this for our forgiveness was messy. His friends and followers thought things were great.That facade that nothing was actually wrong, but people were disconnected from the Father because of their sin. This act of forgiveness changed relationships with families, friends, and his followers. It flipped peoples lives and religious practices upside down. It was messy.
But look what it did.
I choose to forgive like I have been forgiven.
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
