Spot on Jen, you express yourself well on this topic of forgiveness. Your thoughts have been, and are, my thoughts.
Early on I recognized that true forgiveness is only something God can do; we are imperfect, weak, and fallible creatures, not capable of such a super human feat as forgiving a devastating betrayal.
I needed help!
So I asked God to make me strong enough to forgive my husband; I told God that left to myself I could not do this thing.
You stated this well: “Forgiveness is supernatural, and I believe as flawed humans, we are unable to do it on our own.”
And God met me there in my weakness as He promised He would. Over time my heart melted, I was able to see my husband as one of God’s lost sheep, the one he left the 99 for so that He could go search and bring the lost one home. I saw my husband as the “weaker brother”, in need of grace and healing. He didn’t need my wrath, he was already beating himself up over his stupid decisions. His repentance certainly helped the process of forgiveness along, but that in itself was the Lord’s work. God is truly the “hound of heaven”, not letting my husband sink into the pit, but using me to help rescue him.
Thank you dear friend for your encouraging thoughts and words, your honesty and transparency.
Spot on Jen, you express
Spot on Jen, you express yourself well on this topic of forgiveness. Your thoughts have been, and are, my thoughts.
Early on I recognized that true forgiveness is only something God can do; we are imperfect, weak, and fallible creatures, not capable of such a super human feat as forgiving a devastating betrayal.
I needed help!
So I asked God to make me strong enough to forgive my husband; I told God that left to myself I could not do this thing.
You stated this well: “Forgiveness is supernatural, and I believe as flawed humans, we are unable to do it on our own.”
And God met me there in my weakness as He promised He would. Over time my heart melted, I was able to see my husband as one of God’s lost sheep, the one he left the 99 for so that He could go search and bring the lost one home. I saw my husband as the “weaker brother”, in need of grace and healing. He didn’t need my wrath, he was already beating himself up over his stupid decisions. His repentance certainly helped the process of forgiveness along, but that in itself was the Lord’s work. God is truly the “hound of heaven”, not letting my husband sink into the pit, but using me to help rescue him.
Thank you dear friend for your encouraging thoughts and words, your honesty and transparency.