“...forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us...” (From The Lord’s Prayer)

Archibald Hunter says that forgiveness is “surrendering my right to hurt you because you have hurt me.” Richard Smith, a missionary and counselor who has made a lifetime study of cultures and relationships, says it isn’t quite that simple. Forgiveness is not merely letting the offender off the hook. A lot of people mouth empty words of forgiveness, glossing over acts of wrongdoing, while holding on to bitterness in their hearts.

“Forgiveness means releasing the other person from your judgment and trusting God to handle it, even to the point of extending mercy instead of retribution, if that is God’s choice.”

We make statements like, “He’s only human,” or “It was as much my fault as it was yours.” Sometimes we ignore the problem, which continues to fester and grow. We decide not to talk about it, because every time we get into a discussion, we get angry and say things we shouldn’t say.

After I spoke once on the importance of forgiveness, a woman told me about the brutal murder of her son. He had been cut down in the prime of life, and she was angry. Even when the young man who had killed her son was sent to prison, her heart was filled with rage. As a Christian, she knew that she had to forgive, but she just couldn’t do it.

The more she thought and prayed about it, the more she began to see the issue from God’s perspective. What had happened was horrible. Not just to her son, but to her as well. Somehow, she began to realize that vengeance wasn’t her responsibility. It was God’s. And that’s when she began to realize that God would deal with the murderer.

“That kid in prison doesn’t know about God,” she thought. Eventually, she sent him a Bible along with a letter, explaining how she felt. She told him that God, the Author of forgiveness, would also forgive him.

“Don’t do this,” the warden of the prison urged. “You’re just wasting your time.” But she persisted, and when she did, the hatred and anger lifted from her own self.

Forgiveness is much more than giving up my right to hurt you because you hurt me. It involved allowing God to take control of the situation and turn everything that is wrong into something that is right. It is totally trusting that God will handle the situation. Nothing less will do!

God of Justice, when I feel wronged, please remind me to move on with my life and allow You the space to fix the situation properly!