Forgive and Be Forgiven
Blessed Beauty is a blog designed to spread the inspiration of the wonder and beauty in the world around us. But perhaps, sometimes it's not about the beauty in our world, but rather the beauty within the hearts that we possess. The hearts that our Maker created for us to be able to love and be loved.
There is something very beautiful about forgiving those who have hurt you. It's forgetting about the pain that lies within you and focusing on wanting to become a better person. The act of forgiving puts down all anger and bitterness and allows you to become completely free. It untangles you from the mess of dramatic circumstances and unchains you from the difficulty that goes along with relationships - because that's ultimately what this comes down to: people. They will help you and hurt you, that's life.
Not only is there beauty in forgiving others, but also in being forgiven. When we have wronged someone, when we have disobeyed, when we have sinned in any way, which is our human nature, we want to be extended grace, even when we don't deserve it.
The other night, at church, my pastor spoke and I sat looking intently at him but with my mind in a totally different place. I felt trapped by the guilt and shame of my own past decisions and it was creating a wall between God and I. I refused to connect with God that night because of these feelings inside of me. At that point, if I'm correct with what I heard and felt, God spoke to me. He said, "I've already forgiven you, Nicole, you now need to forgive yourself."
Until I forgave myself, I couldn't feel at peace or be free from these thoughts. But God wants us to be free. He's all about letting go of the old and welcoming the new. He's all about second chances.
So don't hold onto it anymore, friend. Forgive and be forgiven.
"The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;" -Daniel 9:9
