Stunning Apparel

Several months ago, news outlets covered the account of the forgiveness a mother gave to the man who had killed her only son. This forgiveness actually led to a friendship between the two individuals. Why was this reported on the news? I suspect because this type of forgiveness is stunning, standing out from the normal response of a mother who has lost a child in this way.

In Colossians 3:13, we are told to bear with one another and to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us. The forgiveness of someone who has deeply wronged us is not something that can be conjured up in our own strength. As we acknowledge our own sins and sinfulness, we see ourselves as Isaiah did when he saw a vision of our holy God and said "Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips." (Isaiah 6:5) Once we realize our own need for forgiveness, we don't have to fear that we are giving in or losing control when we forgive those who have wronged us. We can place the wrongs against us in the hands of our God, who has forgiven us in Christ and who is fully capable of handling any situation in His sovereign wisdom.

The Lord truly does see and hear our troubles and grief, and He is at work in each painful situation, just as He was in the life of Joseph. Joseph was able to say to his brothers, who had tried to destroy his life, "What you meant for evil, God meant for good." Joseph had put on the virtue of forgiveness, allowing the mercy of God to flow through him, and this "outfit" was in stunning contrast to the reaction that his brothers fearfully expected from him.

You can entrust your entire life to your faithful Creator, and put on the virtue of forgiveness. Instead of placing the wrongs against you back in the hands of those who have hurt you, you can place them in the hands of our all-seeing, all-knowing, and faithful God. You may not end up being close to the person who has hurt you, but you can know the sweetness of release from bitterness toward the person.