I’m not sure if any of us doubt
that sometimes it takes a great deal of emotional strength to forgive, besides
times when God miraculously graces us with that power.
I would suggest that that strength
is faith.
Faith, as an action-oriented word,
requires us to go forward on our vision, on a hope which remains invisible, in
this case to forgive someone for something they have done against us or someone
or something we love. Such a task as faith, in the gracious realm of
forgiveness, seems a big risk.
But if we don’t take that risk we
can’t please God, for God is pleased when the act in faith (Hebrews 11:6). When
we make the leap toward reconciliation, even if that doesn’t transpire, we know
we have done our bit. We have extended our grace. And reconciliation is not cut
off because of us.
This is the faith in
forgiveness—to go ahead in seeking a settlement without needing the other
person to make a move. This takes the magnificence of sacrificial courage.
The Basis of Our Faith
Faith seems hard at this point. It
seems action-oriented against the backdrop of an invisible hope. It’s not an
attractive option given that most of the faithless seem to get their own way.
But we forget the basis of our
faith is the Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t envisage our action being done for
anyone but Jesus. When we obey God, by acting for the audience of One in this
way, we find that the faith to forgive is much easier.
It’s no good that we make life
harder for ourselves than it needs to be.
We too easily forget to run our
forgiveness through the filter of grace, so the bitter dregs will be left
behind. We can only do this through a conscious submission before God.
Faith and God go hand in hand. We
cannot show true faith—that which is ‘good’ and etched in truth—unless we draw
upon God’s power and that requires us to surrender our power.
When we remember the basis of our
faith, our faith is easier to practice. It is impossible otherwise. Faith
cannot work without God.
***
The secret to a good life is
faith. Faith and God go hand in hand. Therefore, if we wish to have the good
life, a forgiving life, we need faith and we need God.
© 2012 S. J. Wickham.
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