PEACE IN FORGIVENESS - by Judy Dykes
As I sit here in front of this machine and think
of what these words really mean, I recall
so many things in my own life where I could and should apply them. We are handed a
lot of
things by life or circumstance or at the hands of others who hurt us. Our initial
reaction is to
hurt, hate, feel revengeful and some of us live this way forever after a terrible hurtful
event in our
lives. I was blessed by God to have met His Son at the age of 12, of
course I did not fully
KNOW HIM then but I knew He was there and He would help me if I needed Him. He came
to my rescue many times in life! But it took a lot of searching, praying and crying
to come to the
place that I could forgive ALL those on this earth that had hurt me so deeply. It
was not easy.
I awoke one night and literally screamed out to God, "Please take this hurt from my
heart, I
cannot live this way". I don't know when I realized that He had done
exactly that, but now
I can live with forgiveness in my heart for all the hurt I have endured. I have been able
to
do this even though the people who hurt me have never asked for forgiveness! Maybe some
of them do not even know how much they hurt me and the ones I love! But God knows
and He also knows my heart and He reminds me each day what Jesus taught us:
"And when you stand praying, forgive, if
you have anything against any: that your Father
also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive,
neither will Your Father forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:25-26.
We say to this sometimes, 'But God, surely you
don't want me to forgive this person for what
he did to me?" and His answer is - "With men (or within yourself
alone) it is impossible,
but not with God; for with God all things are possible". Mark 10:27. What
a revelation,
that God can and does give us the ability to forgive!!
While on our last mission trip we landed in
Belfast, Ireland the day after the Omagh bombing.
We were stunned as was everyone. There was such sadness.
I watched everything that came on television concerning the bombing.
There was hate and many people wanting revenge. But
there was one woman, who had taken her son, her ONLY son, shopping for clothes at that
shopping center that day. He was one of the victims that horrible day. This
most humble woman
came on television and in deep tears said to the camera so that whoever was responsible
could
hear "I FORGIVE YOU"; in my heart I forgive you as my Father will forgive
me my sins."
She was so sincere, so strong, yet so heartbroken.
God had given her the grace she needed to forgive.
How sad to loose your only son. It made me
wonder how sad God must have been to allow
His Only Begotten Son to die for us all. And I have had people say to me
recently that
this never happened, that we should not teach our children this 'religious stuff' that it
is harmful
to them to teach them this "stuff". My only response to these kind of
comments is that
I will pray that God will touch the hearts of all who feel this way and that He will make
Jesus
very real to them. I say this in humility, not because I think the people who have
been
touched by Him are better than those who have not, but because He loves them and
He will forgive them anything if they ask it of Him and accept Him as Lord and Savior.
Many of our experiences with hurtful events may
have been almost more than we can bear. But
then He reminds us "I am with you and you do not have to do this
alone". So in your heart
forgive anyone who has hurt you, abandoned you, lied about you, or done anything that was
injurious to your spirit. God alone can do this in your heart and in your
very spirit! He will
remind you of the teachings of Jesus to mend your heart. The Holy Spirit
ministers to us if
we seek it and if we surrender our problems, hurts, our tears and our whole life to our
wonderful Savior and best friend, Jesus! He will sometimes even use unusual events or
people to help us. .
Then comes the other part which sometimes is
harder even. We must ask those we may have
injured in some way to forgive us. So do that. With every fiber of your
being, ask forgiveness
of anyone you may have hurt whether accidentally or because of your own hurts getting in
the way.
I pray with all my heart that you will find the same grace that the woman in
Ireland did to forgive.
This is the kind of grace and love God has put into my heart. I have to talk to my
Lord each day,
read His word and pray to continue to stay in this place, but it is worth every effort,
for the pain
of unforgiveness is more unbearable than the hurt from any injury any of us ever
had.
God wants us to be happy people, feel
a lightness in our spirit, and worship Him.
We may not get to come face to face with some people we would like to forgive or ask
forgiveness of, but I pray God will allow those people to know what He has done for me
and what He can do for them!
May God bless each of you with forgiveness and
peace!
The Peace that is beyond human understanding,
the Peace of God.
IN HIS SERVICE
Judy M. Dykes
September 2000
I asked God to take away my pain.
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.
I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No
Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.
I asked God to give me happiness. God said, No.
I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No.
You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.
I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as He
loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea!.
THIS DAY IS YOURS DON'T THROW IT AWAY
Thank you Linda Haupt for sending this to me!
August 2000
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