God Wants to Heal Your Heart

Thank you for joining me here today. If you are following our Finally Free online study, we are in Chapter 2 this week, “Restoration…Embracing Healing and Wholeness.”

The world we live in is a mean and hurtful place, with hearts breaking every day.

It’s not what God intended when He first created Adam and Eve, but it is our reality.

God doesn’t want us to live with our broken hearts, however. He knows what unforgiveness does to us—

the poison it leaks, 

the scars it creates,

and the way it haunts us in reliving it over and over.

I think it is part of the reason He tells us to forgive others.

Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive. Luke 17:4 NLT

Here’s where I get stuck…

How do I forgive when there is no apology, no request for forgiveness, and no visible remorse?

I struggle with pretending everything is okay when I’m hurt and left to get over it on my own.

When there is an apology and forgiveness, there is closure. Whatever happened can rest in the past.

But when there is no closure, I keep replaying it over and over in my head, feeling the pain again and again.

I try to let it go, but I’m human. I feel hurt and angry, and the lack of remorse only makes it worse.

I can’t do it—I can’t forgive on my own.

But with God I can. He knows my pain, and when I invite Him in, He will begin to heal the pain and diffuse the anger.

I have to ask Him (often again and again) to change my heart and help me forgive, even when the other person doesn’t know or care about my forgiveness.  

The anger creeps back in…why is it my heart that needs to be changed?!?

Because I’m the one hurting and broken, and I don’t want to be. I want to be healed and not continue to carry it with me.

Lord, I need your help. I know I need to forgive, but I’m hurt and angry. I want to scream it’s not fair! But I need to let you deal with it. I want to forgive and move on. But I can’t do it without you. Please help me to forgive, even when there is no apology and no closure. Thank you for your comfort and healing. Amen.

Forgiveness is a powerful path to healing.

And God is ready and willing to walk down that path with me…

leading me when I can’t see where I’m going…

keeping me on the path when I want to stray…

and giving me a gentle push from behind when I’m ready to quit.

I don’t know what pain and hurts you may be dealing with, but is it a wound that keeps cracking open?

There is plenty of room on the forgiving path to healing, if you’d like to join me on it.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:12-13 NLT

In Christ,
Laura

Linking up with WholeHearted Home, Winsome Wednesday, Thought Provoking Thursday, and Faith Filled Friday.