I was woken one morning this week with a memory of a time when someone sent me a message to say that a friend of mine had died. It turned out that this was a ‘joke’. Naturally, I didn’t find it very funny. Not only did that immediate situation hurt me, but it dug up some extreme trauma I’d experienced years before {a long story for another time perhaps}. It took a bit for me to work through this situation and to forgive.

As I lay in bed the other day pondering why I’d remembered this, I thought about this verse:

Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.”…
Luke 23:34‭ CEVUK

Jesus spoke these words to those involved in crucifying Him. He spoke them to us, as we too would deny Him. And I believe He spoke them as a lesson for us on forgiveness.

These words have been so valuable for me over the years, particularly when I was betrayed by someone who had once seemed a close friend. Her nasty, hateful treatment of me was undeserved. It didn’t make sense. And yet, in light of this verse, it did. This verse helped me realise that she didn’t understand that what she was doing was wrong. She couldn’t see it. She was blinded by pain in her own life, and I was just the scapegoat. So, as much as I copped it (and boy did I cop it!), I could forgive with that understanding – she knew not what she did.

Neither did the person who made the ‘joke’ about my friend’s death.

Nor do many others who’ve hurt me over the years, and those who’ll do so in the future.

I appreciate the grace and love that comes with this understanding. It helps me to pray blessing, not cursing, over their lives. It enables me to pray compassionately as I ‘see’ their struggles. It encourages me to pray that they’ll have a revelation of Christ and His love for them.

My pondering also made me reflect again on God’s mercy towards me. It’s abundance is immeasurable. So undeserved… yet given in LOVE. Thank you, Father.

Selah {Think on this}

A girl forgiven. A girl called to forgive. xxx

Scripture references: The Holy Bible (several translations)

Photo credit: Pixabay.com

https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-white-cemetery-christ-church-208315/

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