Forgiveness in the Darkness

Forgiveness in the Darkness

One of the most difficult divine requests was to forgive someone I thought would never change for the better, would never feel remorse for painful actions against others and or just didn’t care! “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).” However, with much study and prayer, I shed all grudges and the potential for holding a grudge towards others but in the process for some I found an even more difficult aspect of unforgiveness that can be shrouded by the hurtful actions of others, people forgiving themselves. There are some people who have difficulties forgiving their actions towards others and in some cases, it is much worse than not forgiving people who have hurt them.

Why should anyone have the need to forgive themselves? Generally, people commit some type of selfish act that creates shame and self-condemnation. The shame triggers a feeling that their transgressions are worse than everyone else and people will not forgive them if they find out what they have done. Moreover, the selfish act or sin remains a secret for a short time or indefinitely, depending on how long people want to torture themselves. Feeling the shame and regret, people stay up at night sitting in a dark room asking forgiveness for sins that people on the outside no nothing about except God himself.

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21, 22).” If a person has asked forgiveness from the Lord, why would Jesus say it is ok to forgive their brother but not themselves? The answer is he wouldn’t. Guilt may be necessary to help a person initiate the repentance process which leads to forgiveness but The Lord did not intend for this guilt to continue, unless the acts persisted. If he did then there would be no need for Christ. “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19).”

Yes, the Lord wants obedience and love but he does not want his children to torture themselves. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).” Love is the key, grace maintains and sustains life with Love for the father, Son and Holy Spirit. “We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).” People need to focus on the Love of Christ, which is not a permission to sin but rather a renewing of the mind, people must be Born Again. If people love Christ, they will follow his teaching, be obedient and be filled with spiritual purpose.

In a dark room Christ is waiting to turn the light on for anyone who will seek out and accept him, his word will be understood and love will replace the self-condemnation and shame that people carry.