I’ve been trying to write *THIS* blog post for at least 3 weeks you guys. Clearly to no avail.
Why so difficult? Well, God has been working in my heart and bringing things up to me through situations, circumstances, and other people that there are some BIG things I need to work through, process, and let go of. Mainly in the area of FORGIVENESS. Yup….I was shocked too. “I don’t struggle with forgiveness, never been an issue.” God’s been revealing my need to take the road of forgiveness with certain people from my past, as early as the interview process for The World Race which I began in December(it’s a pretty intense set of questions, really digging into your life, experiences, and for me—many things I’ve not allowed myself to think about for years).
Over the past three months, I’ve had to begin to face my past head on. In my small group I finally shared my REAL story, with all the messy, awful, and painful details of my journey. I began to realize there were people that I never made a point to NOT forgive, but also didn’t make it a point TO forgive them. Then those people began to show up in one way or another, conversations with people connected to them, with them personally(yikes), and the most recent, someone hearing my story and relating it to their own and how it’s understandable to hate said person, to not forgive them, and if that’s the worst thing you do, well then i’m okay with that. …….reality check. heart check. #OUCH
Sitting in my car after that conversation, and all I could do was listen as Jesus so gently reminded me of G R A C E. I began to think of all HE had forgiven ME for. Everything He does NOT hold against ME. All He has brought me through and the person I’ve become because of who He says I am. God loves us ALL. No matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, His arms are open and He is just waiting for YOU to run to Him and to wash you over with His undying grace. He says, Who you are is not what you’ve done. It’s who I say YOU are. Worthy, forgiven, and made new. You were worth dying for. Don’t forget that.
To put to words what I felt God saying to me that day, last week in the car…. “Becca, you have experienced my grace and know the meaning of it better than some…can you not show just a slight glimmer of this same grace to others? Forgive them. Rip out the bitter roots in your heart. It’s time for healing. The holy spirit needs more space. You can’t do all I have planned for you until you release this. Take my hand, and let’s dive in.”
Colossians 3|13 Make allowance for each other’s faults and F O R G I V E anyone who offends you. Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
