about three days of aching and soreness in
my abdomen, my thighs, my legs, my arms. I
wanted to stop–take the path of least resistance, but I soon learned that to stop because
of the pain doesn’t help the pain. It worsens
the pain. It makes you stiff. The best way to
work out the after aches of such intensity is to
keep working out.
You know where this is going, right?
So it is with forgiveness, especially
when the offense is deep-seated and weighty.
Especially when it has packed so many grudge
pounds onto your heart, you can’t breathe,
spiritually. You have to work it out. And when
you work it out, you will feel the pain, the soreness, the aches of your decision to forgive. But
you must go through the process. You have to
continue to work out your forgiveness.
You must really act like you forgive the
person, even when it hurts. You shouldn’t
treat them badly. You shouldn’t roll your eyes.
You shouldn’t sneer, snarl, wince or growl
when they cross your path.
Turn the tables for a minute. When you
know you’ve done someone wrong. When you
KNOW you’re wrong, and that person forgives
you, how do you want to be treated, moving
forward? Do you want to be reminded of your
trespass with every glance, blink and gaze?
Do you want them to snatch from you when
you extend your hand to give? Do you want to
be ignored? Absolutely not! If they said they
forgave you, you expect to be treated as if
you’re forgiven. Better yet, when you’re forgiven by God through Christ, the slate is clean.
Yes, it grieves God. Yes it hurts Jesus when
you trespass, and yet, here you are, thriving
on sparkling new mercies at the dawn of every
single day.
It’s no different with you. After you
make the decision to lose the weight of unforgiveness, just know your workout will not
yield a pain free process. Just know the first
day may be okay, but day 2, 3, 4 may be a little
more intense. Day 5 comes and the soreness
dissipates–some, because you continued to
work out your forgiveness by relating to the
offender with a forgiving heart. The days
ahead get much easier, as you become accustomed to your new forgiveness behaviors.
Finally, you’ll look in the mirror and
see yourself differently. The weight and pain
of unforgiveness yields itself over to a Godly
glow. Who’s that lady?, you’ll ask yourself. You’ll
see your soul toned up for the next challenge
that awaits you on your journey, and because
you’ve worked out so hard, so long, so diligently and so faithfully, the next offense won’t
knock you off your feet as this one did. You’re
stronger, now. The exercise of forgiveness
won’t have to be so intense next time. Your
heart is conditioned to work through the pain.
So, get on the forgiveness treadmill.
Load up on the forgiveness cardio. Feed your
spirit the lean and replenishing food of the
Word. And keep yourself hydrated with the
living water of Christ. I won’t say it will always
be easy, but the pleasure of a light spirit is so
worth the pain of the forgiving process.
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