Magdalena Today

If we were to be honest about the world, we would all agree that it is a hard and difficult place full of mean and sometimes cruel people. We could all list people in our lives that have hurt us in some way.

Perhaps your wounds are deep and what has been done or said to you seems unforgivable. To love this person(s) would require more love and forgiveness than you have to offer or even want to give. Let's face it. Not everyone is easy to love!

While nothing will ever excuse the wrongs done to you, nor the pain they have caused, God does have a lot to say about our response to people who hurt us, wrong us, or annoy us.

If we are followers of Christ, Colossians 3:13 in the Bible says that we should "bear with one another and forgive each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you" (NASB).

We have all tried hard to conjure up feelings of love and forgiveness for people without being able to let go of the wrong done against us. In our human strength it is sometimes impossible to forgive! Surely, God would not ask us to do the impossible without providing us the means to do it.

We can forgive and love only by trusting and believing God. You can ask God to help you love and forgive. Ask God to grow His love and forgiveness for others in you. (It doesn't happen overnight.) Sometimes a good place to start is to pray for that person. Sometimes you may need to go to a trained counselor or pastor to help you with really deep hurts. We know He desires for us to love and forgive unconditionally just like he loves and forgives us and He will help us do it if we trust Him. Will you ask God to help you forgive someone right now?