The Path to Forgiveness - Pt. 5

 

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4 ESV).

 

The final step in this path to forgiveness is the release from emotional prison. It begins by forgiving yourself. Self-forgiveness is not about letting yourself off the hook nor is it a sign of weakness. The act of forgiveness, whether you are forgiving yourself or someone who has wronged you, does not suggest that you are condoning the behavior. Forgiveness means that you accept the behavior, you accept what has happened, and you are willing to move past it and move on with your life without ruminating over past events that cannot be changed. It also focuses on the truth that our reading today expresses: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (v. 1).

 

We should also realize we are not alone in our suffering. Others have experienced similar hurts. It may be helpful to reach out to a support group. There are groups for every tragic circumstance in life, from being the adult child of an alcoholic to being a parent of a murdered child. Your suffering may be deep and terrible, but it is not unique. You do not have to be alone.

 

You should also consider how you have grown and changed as a result of your life experiences. You would never have willingly chosen them, and I wish you could have been spared that pain, but they have shaped you and contributed to making you the person you are today. That person is worthy and lovable. God did not send His only begotten Son to die for you because He was somehow obligated to dos. He did that because He loves you (cf. John 3:16). Think on that… God knows all of you, and loves you enough to sacrifice that much on your behalf.

 

And, God has also promised to oversee every experience and bring good to you from it (cf. Roman 8:28). I often don’t understand how He does that; however, I am always amazed that He never fails to do precisely that. I can tell you from my personal experience that everything has given me a good gift of life and understanding. Let yourself go from the prison of the past, whether your making or not.