The Little Things

Why is forgiveness so hard?

Maybe it’s because hurt penetrates deep inside of us and no matter how forcefully we try, we cannot reshape the past. Words said and actions done cannot be taken back. Ever.

Or maybe it’s because we believe we have a righteous cause to defend, that our anger has meaning, that we have a right to endure this cavernous, coursing hatred for another.

But is hatred ever justified?

We were people who despised Him with every inch of our fibers. Even though we rebelled against a loving, merciful God, committing the worst sin possible, the sin of insurrection and blindness and hostility, God never hated us. Even though we abusively crucified and rejected and spit on and tortured and brutally slaughtered His perfect Son, His gloriously beautiful Gift for us, He loved us.

If God, in His perfect justice, did not justify hatred even when we committed such evil against Him, how can we, in our petty selfishness, justify hatred on our brothers?

But then, how can we shatter our unreasonable hatred and swivel an 180^o and actually demonstrate true love and forgiveness? How can we splinter the strangling chains of anger and hatred and malice? How?

By looking down, by descending from our lofty platforms, our precarious high heels. For we are not better off than the guy next door. Only by God’s grace are we saved, and it is not of our own doing, but of the free gift of God. We all sin and we all need forgiveness. That man who cut us off, or the family member who continually irritates our pride, or the cashier at Target who disfigured our day. If they are brothers and sisters in Christ, then they also have experienced His love, just as we have. We’re on the same platform. But if they’ve never encountered God or His astounding love, then aren’t they to be pitied? Shouldn’t we sense a deep compassion for them, instead of irrational anger?

We also need to remember the times when others forgave us. I can sure recall plenty of times when I have spoken to injure others purposely, accidentally made lives more difficult, or just behaved in all foolishness without thinking. People around me forgave my faults, sympathizing in my humanity and need of Christ. And we need more men and women like that in this world. People who look down and understand that we possess a common goal and purpose, and in perfect honesty, we’re all in this forsaken mess together.

Also, realize the kind of God we have. Micah 7:18-19 states, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” For Christians, God chooses to forget our sins. He does not delight in anger or wreaking vengeance. Instead, His Word promises that He forgives us willingly, and He delights in steadfast love, finding joy in forgiveness and the restoration of love and mending broken hearts into a gloriously intimate relationship with Him. I don’t know about you, but I could break out and dance. Hallelujah. That we have a God who chooses to throw away all the rubbish we have ever said and done. How great is our God!

When I look back now on the things that caused the unbearable anger to bubble over these last few days, I feel incredibly ashamed. Ashamed that my God has done so much for me and I refused to do the little things for people around me. Thanks be to God, who has given me His glorious grace and mercy and love and refuses to let this broken heart of mine go until He makes it wholly perfect and glorious for His glory.