What if you could forgive today?

When my ex hurt me so badly—he was with another woman just days after our breakup, and they were engaged shortly afterwards—I just didn't want to forgive!

You may have experienced similar heartbreak and can relate. Maybe you'd like to shout, just like I wanted to back then, "He doesn't deserve mercy!" But I know today, a few years later, that I would've missed a great blessing in my life if I had not forgiven him.

If you can forgive today, you will soon experience the resulting blessing!

It was the same with Joseph. His brothers sold him when he was just seventeen years old. They even considered killing him! (See Genesis 37:12-28) But Joseph ended up serving Pharaoh and ultimately played a life-saving role for his whole country and region!

It's interesting to note that during the famine, when Joseph's brothers stood before him begging for grain, they didn't recognize him. That would have been the perfect moment for Joseph to get back at them. After all, their actions didn't "deserve" mercy! But Joseph trusted his God with all his heart. Nothing more, nothing less. And he wanted to forgive them. Nothing more, nothing less. He knew that God's way is always love:

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD." (Isaiah 55:8, NKJV)

If Joseph had decided not to forgive, it could have ruined this life-saving story for an entire region. He would've continued to live the rest of his life in frustration in prison (either literally, figuratively, or both!), but I believe it was forgiveness that set him free!

My question now for you comes from the bottom of my heart: Will you forgive today and experience the blessings God has in store for those who trust in Him? (See 1 Corinthians 2:9) I invite you to go to the Lord in prayer about this today!

You are a miracle!

Déborah