Put it on the big screen
Several years ago, I had a difficult time letting go of a past hurt. To be honest, it wasn���t one of my most painful moments. The issue wasn���t even so much what was done, but who did it. Someone from church, who I considered a friend, hurt my feelings.
I would take the offense to God and release it in prayer. But then the reminders would replay, and I would again wallow in self-pity and anger. I wanted everyone else to see what this person did, to put their failures on a big movie screen.
I wanted the preacher to announce in church, and to the entire world, what this person was really like.��Ah, the satisfaction as everyone would be shocked at that person���s failure and moved to compassion for me ��� the poor, injured party.
However, as I was running this scenario through my mind and taking it to its grand conclusion, I realized there was a major problem.
Would I want to be judged in the same way?
Oh, my goodness ��� no! Yet, I was asking God for punishment beyond what I would ever want for myself.
If I actively seek grace from my Savior, should I not actively give grace to others?
Jesus said, ���If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.��� (Matthew 6:14-15, NLT).
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your forgiveness. Help me to freely forgive others as You have forgiven me.
