The most striking forgiveness

"...'Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.'..." (Luke 23:34, NLT) It was Jesus who spoke these history-making words, these words that are a huge key to a liberated life!

When I did NOT want to forgive, and after months of lying sobbing on the floor in severe depression, God kept tapping me lightly on the shoulder: "Déborah…forgive!"

"But I can't! Why don't You understand me, Jesus? I've been hurt, and the other person just goes on living happily. That's not fair!"

That's when I heard Jesus as clearly as I ever have: "Do you think it was fair when they beat Me? (See Luke 22:63) Do you think it was fair when they hung Me on that cross next to two criminals, even though I was innocent?" (See Luke 23:33)

I asked, "Jesus, then why did You still say, 'Father, forgive them!'?" He answered, "Because they do not know what they are doing!"

At that moment, tears ran down my cheeks because I realized He meant…me. I had so often disappointed and hurt people because I hadn't understood the extent of my words and actions. I didn't know what I was doing.

In the same way, the person who'd hurt me so badly hadn't even understood the seriousness of the damage he had caused in my life. That's why Jesus chose to go to the cross…so that we could also forgive, just as He did. Even when we don't understand.

Honestly, even as I write this, my eyes are filled with tears again. Jesus never wants us to stall in life because we can't forgive. That's why He went to the cross. To forgive is to live!

Become free!

You are a miracle!

Déborah

P.S. This is the final day of this plan. If you want to receive an encouraging email in your inbox every day, I invite you to subscribe to ‘A Miracle Every Day’.