Forgiveness

So God is bringing situations into my life recently that are requiring forgiveness. This is a hard one for me. Why is it so hard to forgive? I am learning ... again .... that it's a choice and a command from God. This is something that's in the front of my life right now.

God is bringing me to a place of having a part in healing in other's lives. Therefore, he is bringing healing into my life. Recently, it's in relationships. How am I to help in bringing healing in other people's lives if there isn't healing in my own life? Ugh! This is so hard for me. Isn't it interesting how it's easier to let issues go instead of working through them and come to a place of healing?

Clint and I have had many conversations about forgiveness because this is a constant issue for us with being in a stepfamily and being in leadership. When the kids and I were in the accident several years ago, I was on TV saying that I've forgiven the lady who caused the accident, which ultimately took my husband's life and paralized my son. Forgiving her was a no-brainer for me! She didn't do this intentionally! BUT when others hurt me intentionally, it's so hard to forgive!

Last night Clint read something that was so good. It's from "One Month to Live" ...

It can be like trying to see clearly in the depths of the sea. To view anything underneath the ocean's surface, you need a mask. And to forgive someone, you need to see beneath the surface as well. On the surface there's no logical reason for me to forgive someone who has hurt me. But when I look below the surface, the Bible gives me some great reasons to forgive.
One is that Christ commands it. Forgiveness is not an option.
If you try to live a life without forgiving, you will not survive. It is essential that we forgive for our own sakes, otherwise we will drown in bitterness. We think that if we hold onto our hurt, we're getting back at the person who injured us. In reality we're just hurting ourselves. If we want to enjoy our lives to the fullest, we must release the bitterness.
The number one rule in diving deeper into life is never hold in your unforgiveness, which quickly leads to bitterness.
Be honest with your feelings with others and God. We have to express our feeling to God and arrive at the place where we can pray, "God, I trust that You know what's best. You know I'm mad, so please forgive me and help heal me." When you do that, the healing process begins.
We don't feel like forgiving people who hurt us, but that's okay. Forgiveness is not about how we feel. We forgive because we make a conscious decision and say to God, "I choose to forgive them by Your power because You command me to and because it's for my own good." Then 5 minutes later, when the hurt comes back to our minds, we can repeat this prayer, as many times as needed.
God says you need to forgive for your own sake, because unforgiveness and bitterness blocks the blessings He wants to pour into your life. If you open up to God by forgiving and praying for those who hurt you, then blessings can start flowing again. Healing starts to occur in your soul.