When Forgiving Is Too HardSample

Supernatural Help 

At that retreat, I realized that it’s one thing to know that we should forgive, but it’s a whole other thing to be able to do it. Many have tried and failed, just like Sheila. Do you feel like you’ve tried and failed to forgive? 

Look what happened to Sheila when she was able to soak her spirit in God’s Word until she knew that forgiveness was not only possible, but that she could do it. She received the faith for it because faith — even the faith for forgiveness — comes by hearing and doing God’s Word. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. 

Sometimes in your life the hurt goes so deep, and it’s been there so long, you have to have supernatural help to be set free. But you do have supernatural help – you have the Bible Colossians 3:16 tells us, “let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” When the Word of God is dwelling in you richly, you can overcome! 

Obviously, if you are still harboring unforgiveness in your heart towards anyone, you haven’t forgiven them, just like Sheila hadn’t. True forgiveness is to release the one who has done you wrong. God wants your heart to be free, and forgiveness is the way to get there. 

One thing you have to understand is that forgiveness is a faith proposition, not a feeling! I heard someone once say it this way: forgiveness is the decision you make once, forgetting is the decision you make daily. I think that says it perfectly! It helps me know that I shouldn’t be surprised when feelings resurface after I’ve forgiven someone. 

Feelings follow after faith. Many of us can say that we’ve tried to forgive, but like Sheila, we found the horrible feelings come back to choke us. But here’s what I want you to know — feelings have nothing to do with faith.