Worth SharingSample

How do we forgive people who really hurt us?

It’s safe to say that someone, at some point in time, has hurt every one of us. There have been times people have let us down, made an empty promise, or dropped the ball, causing us to feel betrayed. Each of these actions stings...and some of that hurt is hard to let go.

When we think of the ways we've been hurt, our first reaction may be to become laser-focused on the pain, or we may shut down and suppress the hurt we feel. Sometimes, the feelings of abandonment or betrayal can make it hard to trust again. How do we know when it's safe to open up to others?

We can start by addressing the pain from our past, or the hurt we are experiencing in a relationship right now. It doesn't do us any good to keep our feelings inside. Addressing our pain may mean we need to end relationships, especially those that are unsafe or unhealthy--mentally, spiritually, physically, or emotionally.

In the midst of our process, what if we ask Jesus for courage--courage to make decisions for our own health, and courage to pray for those individuals who have left us with scars? People often hurt others because they are hurting. This doesn't excuse their behavior, but it does give us reason to pray that they would experience the love and healing of Jesus in a way that would transform their lives and change their actions.