Have you been hurt?

Have you been hurt? Of course you have. Every one has been hurt one way or another in life. Hurt by someone else doing them harm, lying, cheating, stealing, broken relationships, broken marriages, disputes and so on. Everybody hurts. 

Were you angry at the time? Of course you were. It would not be natural not to be angry and wanting to kick back, seek revenge, retribution, justice ... ah ... justice. That's a good one to mean retaliation.

We've all been hurt, and some of us are still hurting now. Probably still angry too.

Probably the person who has caused the hurt has gone away, or passed away, or even does not care that they have hurt you. 

So what now? Two choices:

1    Continue to hurt and get angry.

2    Do something about it.

You've guessed what I'm going to say ... here comes the sermon ... forgive and forget ... love one another ... and all that. Typical Christian blah blah blah ... Not easy is it?

Of course it is not easy to forgive and forget. How can you forget when often you have a reminder every day of the hurt done to you all that long ago? 

And how can you forgive if the one who hurt you is no longer in your life? Or is possibly dead? Or has never sought forgiveness nor wants it anyway?

OK ... let's look at the scenario that the person is dead. That person has now met God face to face and has seen the situation in all its facets. It is no longer your problem. Hand the situation to God; and ask Him to forgive on your behalf. You'll probably still hurt; but let the hurt be an opportunity to hand that person and that situation back to God again.

In the other scenario the person has gone away and has not sought forgiveness. So ask yourself. If that person was here right now, and genuinely asked for forgiveness; would you forgive and seek no retribution, recompense or revenge? If yes ... then why not forgive now anyway? Even if the person is not here and does not know it. At least God knows and is pleased by your decision.

The hurt may not go away. But let it be an opportunity to pray for that person again. You can't possibly hate a person you're praying for.

So there you have it ... two choices ... continue to hurt and get angry, or do something about it.

It won't be easy. But I never said it is. I know from experience.

And one more thing ... When Jesus sees the scars in His hands and feet and side; He remembers ... and forgives once more.