FOR YOUR INSPIRATION
How to Forgive
the Indefensible
by Juliane Wiebracht
T
he issue of forgiveness is a painful
one. Sometimes the wrong is so big,
so deep and so wide that it almost
seems petty and cruel, even to men-
tion the word forgiveness. And yet, there
is a large doorway of hope that God has
placed in the very center of forgiveness
that we often overlook. It is an entry way
to freedom. The freedom to enjoy all that
God has given us and allow Him to start
something new in our lives. But it all begins
with a heart that is ready to surrender. An
unforgiving heart, at least in my own life,
is an “arched back” type of heart. Like a
rigid toddler who refuses to get into his
car seat, when my heart is unforgiving, it is
not surrendered to God. Over and over I
play in my mind how I will bring this per-
son to a realization of their sin against me.
Open their eyes to the depth of the wrong
that they have inflicted on me. I picture
myself winning and my adversary coming
to a point of humiliation and regret. How-
ever, this is my flesh and not the desire of
the Spirit within me. In contrast, the Spirit
calls me to surrender. To give up the fight.
To stop arching my back and instead crawl
into the lap of my loving Father. Perhaps
with tears from all the old scars and fresh
wounds. He beckons for me to lay down my
sword, and allow Him to pick up my case.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but
leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed
him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink;
for by so doing you will heap burning coals on
his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but over-
come evil with good. Romans 12:19-21
I must surrender. It is not my job to
avenge or repay. But it is God’s job to make
things right in His time and through His
ways. He sees our pain and our deepest
wounds. He does not look away and forget
the injustice that is done against us. He
is the God who sees. The weeping of our
hearts is not disregarded by him. Like the
slave woman Hagar, who fled from her
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