Freedom From Forgiveness

When something is stolen from you, mentally, spiritually or physically it is a loss that you have to mourn. With any loss you have to allow time to get through the pain. When your life is shattered, it won’t seem like it but the ruins can be rebuilt. How do you forgive someone who has stolen from you resulting in loss of life, innocence or relationship? It’s hard to forgive. But unforgiveness is a toxic emotion and can have toxic results in your life when it consumes you. What does toxic emotion mean? It’s when something manifests negatively in your thoughts and can change your brain wiring to a chaotic mess that you may spend your life and energy untangling. Examples of toxic emotions are anger, anxiety, jealousy, hate or unforgiveness.

Forgiving brings freedom and healing. Choose to forgive, this paves a positive path in your brain. Maybe you can’t choose, then choose to choose for you know you need to. It’s essential in the soul healing process. You may forgive as an act of your will, but go deeper and forgive from the emotional realm. This is explained in detail in “You Can Be Emotionally Free,” a book by Rita Bennett.  How do you forgive at a deeper level where the reward is richer? Choose to align yourself with God and his goodness, not the enemy who is evil and causes you to cling to unforgiveness and its toxic emotions. You will be glad you did! Dr. Caroline Leaf tells in her book “Switch On Your Brain,” that you can change the wiring in your brain by exchanging toxic emotions for positive emotions. This effects you today for the positive and also the DNA of future generations.

Here are some situations that required forgiveness in order to have peace and healing in the life of those involved.

1 – Abuse  

 My friend was molested by her step-father and it wrecked her life. She could not forgive him for many years. She finally said to Jesus “I can’t forgive him but I know I need to, can you help me and give me the ability to forgive him through you?” It happened, her life and relationship were restored. Instead of unforgiveness weighing her down, her life took on a lightness and joy that impacted her and many others, even the perpetrator. She pursued this not for him, but for her and her children. Unforgiveness brings darkness, depression, death, defeat or despair. Jesus dispels  the darkness of anger or unforgiveness and brings light, life and love.

2 – Relationship

Another friend is kept from seeing her son or grandchildren by a vindictive daughter-in-law. It’s hard to understand how love cannot be allowed when there is such demand for it in this world. Psalm 56:9 says “The very moment I call to you for a father’s help the tide of battle turns and my enemies flee.” Pray, then pray some more, be persistent. God will send his angels to watch and protect those you can’t see, for He sees them always. It may not happen fast enough for you, for Gods ways  and timetable are not ours. You must trust him for sometimes there is no other way.

3 – Death

When death is involved and the heart is broken you may never get over it, but you can get through it. When my son died in an auto accident it was the most difficult thing I ever went through. I questioned why God allowed it but I did not dwell in unforgiveness. I have heard of people that did and their lives were consumed with the death and darkness. I knew God sustained me and I was strengthened by the support and prayers of many. The Lord truly became my Shepherd and I will dwell in his house forever, and my son will be there also!

Unforgiveness is Satan’s tool. He will use it to steal, kill or destroy. Don’t listen to his lies. When he puts a thought in your mind that is dark, bind it in the name of Jesus who came to give life abundantly. (See John 10:10) When you choose to align yourself with Jesus you will have a new identity. You will be like Him and in Jesus there are no toxic emotions or unforgiveness, only peace that is beyond your understanding, and has an incredible level of healing where forgiveness reigns.

 Love, Debbie