The Mercy of Forgiveness

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;~Daniel 9:9

What do you do when you hurt someone?  You apologize, sing “Kum-ba-yah” and all is well right?  While I would love for that to always be true, the fact is that reconciliation is not always easy.  Yet, even when it is difficult God is present and He speaks. God spoke to me through a recent circumstance and opened my eyes anew to beauty and mercy of His forgiveness.

I hurt someone and sought to apologize, but my apology was not accepted.  My efforts for reconciliation were rejected.  What do you do when your effort to repent is rejected? How do you move forward and walk in peace? These are questions that I asked myself and God.  In my searching for the answers and attempts to deal with the sting of it all, God brought me back to some truths.  He gave me a fresh perspective on forgiveness and stripped away a layer of pride and, for lack of a better word, complacency that was lurking underneath.

Through this circumstance, God allowed me to realize just how much I have taken for granted His compassion and the mercy of His forgiveness.  God in His great compassion has forgiven me over and over and over again.  He blots out my transgressions for His namesake and remembers them no more(Isaiah 43:25).  I came come to His throne of grace and receive mercy and hope(Hebrews 4:18).  I come to Him in reverence, but never fear because His love is perfect (1 John 4:18).  And while I might be chastised because He loves me ( Hebrews 12:6),  I am never rejected.  

That part is easy because it’s between me and God and He is absolutely great!  But what about the person I hurt and the lack of reconciliation?  Well, this is where the “work” comes in.   In a way the tables have been turned and I now I am hurt. What will I do with it?  Will allow the enemy to sow further discourse and strife or will I follow the example of my Father and let love deeply allowing love to cover a multitude of sins ( 1 Peter 4:8)? I choose love. It’s my turn to forgive whether it is received or not.  

I can’t be prideful and sit in a seat of judgement patting myself on the back because I put my big girl pants on and apologized.  I only did what God commanded me to do.   It was rejected, just as I once  rejected the love that God was pouring out me.  Just as I have rejected the freedom of His peace because I wanted to feel justified in my misery.  God tells me to be compassionate.  They are where they are, I contributed to their pain, and now  I am to keep loving them whether it is received or not.  That is the true essence of love, loving not because you are getting anything back, but simply loving as God loves me.

In the meantime I will sing Kim-ba-yah because I want God to come by here.  I want Him to always be in the midst and guide me to walk in peace. I will offer praises of gratitude for His abundant grace and mercy.

Father I thank You for your compassion and the mercy of your forgiveness. Thank You for reconciliation and redemption.  May I follow in your footsteps and spread the mercy and the grace of You with others.  May your peace abound. In Jesus name. Amen