A Process of Forgiveness

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NKJV)

 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

"My husband has had an affair and we've separated." These were the words I read in an email last year from a dear friend. What do you do? My reaction was to defend her and put the people involved in their place and let them know exactly what I thought of them. After awhile though, I had to put the situation in God's hands. You see, even though it wasn't my marriage, for my friend's sake, I wanted to step in and fix it. I had to come to the realization that no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't. I had to go through the process of forgiveness. I had to forgive her husband and also forgive the lady he had the affair with. I still have days where I want to ring their necks and tell them what I think, but I'm much closer to the forgiveness and grace point that I was before. What or who in your life do you still need to forgive. Though it won't happen overnight, if you let God take over and have complete control, you'll get there.

Father, help us each to forgive. We know it's a process Lord. In your time, show us the grace to release the people and the pain into Your hands. In Jesus Name, Amen.