Spiritual Survival Guide
3: Forgiveness
Finally, for some of us, the toughest act of forgiveness is when the enemy seems to be God himself. The truth is, most of us don’t want to think of God as our “enemy.” We know he isn’t. That said, there can be those times when God feels like our enemy, when we feel unfairly hurt, and we know that God (somehow, some way) is in control and has something to do with this. Sometimes, like Job in the Bible, we just want to come right out and say it: God, does it please you to oppress me? Do you get a kick out of it? Why did you bring me out of the womb? Just to crush me for no reason? I’m sick of the way you treat me. (Job 10) Sometimes, like Jesus himself, we want to cry out, “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). Why did you abandon me? Why did you leave me hanging? I thought we were friends, and now you treat me like we’re enemies! It’s hard to forgive God. It’s hard to even know how to start. We’re torn. On the one hand, God is the one we’re really mad at and disappointed with. But, on the other hand, God is the only one we can appeal to for help. We’re torn between our gratitude and love for all that God’s given us, and our anger at all that he’s allowed to be inflicted upon us. It just doesn’t seem right. What do we do when our head says “I have no right to judge God!” and yet our heart feels the need to tell God how angry and disappointed we are? The Bible gives us some clues. First, be honest with God. Don’t try to fake it. Take it to God. He’s big enough to handle it.
Second, be persistent. Commit your spirit into his hands. Continue to seek his face. Wait for that face-to-face encounter to come. Like Job, God won’t keep us waiting forever. Like Job, a fresh start lies ahead. (Check out Job 38-42.)
Think About It. Talk About It.
1. Where do you personally struggle the most with forgiveness: With forgiving others? With being forgiven by others? With accepting being forgiven by God? With forgiving God when you’re mad at him? With forgiving yourself?
2. What do you think about the biblical idea that the heart of forgiveness is God “taking away” our wrong-doing from us and absorbing it into himself? 3. Where do you usually tend to go wrong when it come to the art of forgiveness? a) I rush it. b) I wait too long. c) I find it hard to keep forgiving. d) I forget to make the relationship a priority. e) I forget that God’s actively involved in the process. 4. Do you tend to suffer from bitter and recurring regret instead of repent- ing, accepting God’s forgiveness, and moving on?
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