Healed by Forgiveness and Faith

The second chapter of Mark’s Gospel relates a story of a paralyzed man receiving healing. He and his friends made a valiant effort to gain an audience with Jesus so the paralytic could be healed. Imagine this man's response as Jesus pronounced him healed, saying: "Your sins are forgiven. Rise up and walk."

Mark’s Gospel gives us this account for two distinct reasons. First, there’s a connection between various types of illness and the role forgiveness of sin plays in receiving healing. The second reason is to let us know persistence is often required to get to a place where healing can be secured. Imagine the courage it took for this man to submit to Jesus for healing.

These friends persevered until Jesus recognized their friend’s need. Faith and hope inspired them to press on in their pursuit of Jesus. Their determination and faith amazed Jesus. He responded to their friend, "Your sins are forgiven. Get up and go home." Do you need to hear these words for the burden you’re carrying? There’s no limit to God's mercy and forgiveness. 

______________________

When Jesus saw how strongly they believed that he would help, Jesus said to the sick man, “Son, your sins are forgiven!”

…Then turning to the paralyzed man, he commanded, “Pick up your stretcher and go on home, for you are healed!”

The man jumped up, took the stretcher, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers! Then how they praised God. “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” they all exclaimed.

~Mark 2:5, 11-12 The Living Bible

Believing-prayer (the prayer of faith) will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you have sinned, you’ll be forgiven – healed inside and out.

~James 5:15 The Message

Thanking God for Faith, Forgiveness and Healing

The inner dependence between healing and forgiveness is revealed by Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. A paralyzed man is carried by his four friends to Jesus for healing. The house is so crowded they took him up to the roof and removed a section of the roof so the man could be lowered into the presence of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

Healing the mind and body can be dependent on forgiveness. If this man’s sins had prolonged his illness, guilt also must have been a factor. Guilt confirms that punishment is certain unless contrition is obvious, combined with sincere efforts to make right what is wrong. The desire for forgiveness is absolutely necessary.

All illnesses are not caused by sin, but Jesus recognized this man's sins and consequent guilt. What Jesus said to this man, he will also say you. “Your sins are forgiven. Rise up and go home.” Be assured Jesus forgives all manner of sin, and his purpose is for you to experience his forgiveness.  

_______________________

Jesus said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk home.” At once the man stood up in front of everyone. He picked up his mat and went home, giving thanks to God.

~Luke 5:24-25 Contemporary English Version

I prayed, “Have pity, Lord! Heal me, though I have sinned against you.”

~Psalm 41:4 Contemporary English Version

For you, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon you.

~Psalm 85:5 New American Standard Bible

Pity: A Bridge to Forgiveness

Vindictiveness is akin to anger and resentment when it becomes ingrained in a person's attitude, thoughts and feelings. This powerful belief system has the potential for numbing a person's feelings of compassion for others. Little or no sympathy is possible for those to whom vindictiveness is directed because the heart has grown cold and hard.

Pity is a form of sympathy and compassion. A woman became angry and bitter toward a co-worker who, out of jealousy, spread slanderous gossip about her that broke her heart. She just couldn't bring herself to forgive the woman because of the damage it did to her reputation. As her anger intensified, she became more resolute to retaliate.

When she learned her co-worker was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she began to develop feelings of pity for her which replaced the anger and vindictiveness. Her feelings of pity built a bridge to forgiveness. Jesus used the word pity to describe a Good Samaritan who was willing to help a man who in all probability would never have done the same for him.  

______________________

“But a Samaritan who was traveling that way came upon the man, and when he saw him, his heart was filled with pity. He went over to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them; then he put the man on his own animal and took him to an inn, where he took care of him... 

Jesus replied, “You go, then, and do the same.”

~Luke 10:33-34, 37 Good News Bible

Stop Vindictiveness in its Tracks

Vindictiveness evolves when conflict lingers on indefinitely as a consequence of refusing to consider other people’s ideas and feelings. A vindictive attitude seeks to punish anyone who is perceived as an enemy. An enemy could be a person who disagrees or who is out of step with another person’s goals and ambitions.    

When conflict dominates a relationship, distress may eventually evolve into vindictiveness. The longer conflict exists, the more it fuels the fire of vindictiveness, which can diminish any appearance of love and compassion for significant others. Vindictiveness has the power to prolong a stubborn, self-willed attitude that perpetuates conflict.

An attitude of vindictiveness can be healed by making a concerted effort to listen and understand another’s point of view. Proverbs 3:13 states: "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and who gains understanding.” This is also a step to forgiveness and a possible new beginning. Is this your desire?  

_______________________

Hatred stirs up trouble; love overlooks the wrongs that others do.

~Proverbs 10:12 Contemporary English Version

This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience – it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance.

Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it shares the joy of those who live by the truth.

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. Love never fails.

~1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

Conflict: A Door to EITHER Healing OR Hurt

It's impossible to escape conflict, no matter how hard you try. It's an uphill battle convincing yourself that conflict is a normal part of day-to-day life. Conflict creates tension and anxiety when it’s perpetually at your doorstep. Conflict has the potential for prompting opposite responses.

It's possible for conflict to open the door either to understanding and more effective communication or to hurt feelings and vindictiveness. A couple's parenting style may be radically different, with the father being easier going and permissive and the mother following a structured, rules-oriented parenting style. Of course the children may favor the father’s approach.

Differences in parenting techniques may produce power struggles that cause children to suffer from anxiety and guilt. These struggles often produce mutual vindictive attitudes and acts of retaliation. Differences can be negotiated when two people are willing to let down their guards to see the value in each other's ideas. This is a step to forgiveness that the Lord God will certainly bless.  

_________________________

“Do not bear a grudge against others, but settle your differences with them, so that you will not commit a sin because of them.”

~Leviticus 19:17 Good News Bible

And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

~Hebrews 13:16 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

Back in the Trenches Again with Demons?

Setting boundaries and being able to sustain those boundaries is in fact one of the graduated steps in making forgiveness a success. How earnestly have you prayed to ask God to help you forgive someone who cruelly hurt you? Then you actually felt relief and peace from the bitterness that engulfed your life? Later, you’re back in the trench with the same hurt and bitterness, as if forgiveness never happened.

Remember the story Jesus told about a demon that came out of a man only to return later with seven of his fellow demons to torment him worse than before? What went wrong that permitted the demons to return? He failed to surround himself with godly boundaries that protected him from demons. Setting boundaries is a continuous process as is forgiving someone who has hurt you.

Setting needed boundaries that prevent you from lingering in the trench with hate and bitterness is essential. Forgiveness, though not easily obtained, builds a bridge to inner peace with others and God the Father. Forgive and you will be forgiven.  
______________________

Let there be no more bitter resentment or anger, no more shouting or slander, and let there be no bad feeling of any kind among you. Be kind to each other, be compassionate. Be as ready to forgive others as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.

~Ephesians 4:31-32 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.

~Ephesians 6:16 The Living Bible

Solid Boundaries Parallel Unwavering Forgiveness

Forgiveness that does not waver is usually anchored in solid boundaries. Setting effective boundaries may be misunderstood because more is involved than making impulsive decisions that cannot be lived up to or set aside and forgotten. The most difficult boundaries are those that ensure the continuance of a relationship.

Boundaries and forgiveness parallel each other to create stability and security for a relationship. A couple experienced turmoil over a twenty- year marriage because of infidelity. The wife seemed incapable of being satisfied with home and family. After each episode she promised to change, so her husband sidestepped the deeper issues to avoid conflict.

Refusing to set boundaries to avoid conflict created an unstable marriage. Forgiving is different from placating, overlooking and denying behavior that is unhealthy. Healthy relationships depend on forgiveness and solid boundaries grounded in love. It's appropriate to ask God for the courage to face the truth and to change. 

_______________________

Let us tell the truth with love and in every way grow up into him who is the Head – Christ.

~Ephesians 4:15 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

Stop lying to each other; tell the truth for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves. If you are angry, don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry – get over it quickly; for when you are angry you give a mighty foothold to the devil.  

~Ephesians 4:25-27 The Living Bible

Trust God's Process to Forgiveness

Three basic emotions that keep forgiveness within darkness are anger, fear and hurt. Lack of trust is positioned alongside these and stands as a barrier to peace and unity. It’s unbelievable how a person not only can lose all regard for someone they previously loved, but given enough disappointments and apathy, their will to forgive may evaporate.

The more intense anger, fear and hurt become, the harder it is to trust forgiveness. This doesn’t imply that forgiveness is out of the question. It does mean, however, that serious issues encased in these emotions need be addressed before forgiveness can be considered. People require boundaries to insure their emotional and physical health.

Setting boundaries is one step to forgiveness but does not disregard God's word instructing us to forgive others as he has forgiven us. Forgiveness must ensure that proper boundaries have been established so the bridge to integrity and personal safety can be ultimately built and maintained. God rejects chaos and disunity, for he is a God of stability.  

_______________________

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

~Colossians 1:13-14 New Living Translation

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it and he will.

~Psalm 36:5 The Living Bible

Pardoned - Not Paroled

Whenever the voice of conscience prods a person to seek forgiveness and there’s a positive response to that nudging, that individual has turned from resistance to compliance. Resistance is clothed in anger and fear, while compliance is wrapped in faith and hope. God created your conscience to be a light for moral and spiritual choices.  

Saying yes to your conscience is saying yes to God and life.  When the Prodigal Son came home with a repentant attitude, his forgiving father proclaimed with joy, "My son was lost and is now found, was dead, but is now alive."  Repentance that marshals in forgiveness liberates the burdened heart to explore life free from the chains of guilt and sorrow.

When God forgives you, he doesn't put you on parole to test your rehabilitation. Instead, he has pardoned you, which means you are no longer held accountable to God for previous sins - although society will hold you accountable. Forgiveness promises a pardon for past sins, so you can fulfill God’s future for yourself.  

_______________________

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

~Isaiah 55:6-7 New International Version

But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 
~Psalm 130:4 New International Version

Want to Reconcile? Don't Resist Repenting

Forgiveness is a demonstration of kindness that portrays turning away from bitterness to an attitude of repentance and reconciliation. Yet there's something about human nature that resists taking the initiative to be repentant and forgiving. Recognizing and overriding that resistance must be addressed, however, if forgiveness is to be successful.

When a Christian chooses sin over fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, a barrier to communion evolves. If fellowship is to be restored, an attitude of repentance and confession must be a priority. We may concede that repentance is necessary for reconciliation with God but hesitate or refuse to concede that it’s a vital step to reconciliation with people.

If forgiveness is to be successful, sincere feelings of remorse must be felt for having caused pain and suffering. Repentance, prompted by feelings of remorse, encourages the seeker of forgiveness to discontinue behaviors that caused suffering and pain. To do so is saying yes to the Holy Spirit and is a choice for healing a broken relationship.  

______________________

Now you must turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that your souls may know the times of refreshment which come from the presence of the Lord.

~Acts 3:19 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.

~James 5:16 The Living Bible

Breaking Chains

Forgiveness breaks the chains of our impulse to retaliate against an aggressor. We’re automatically elevated onto a higher level of functioning the moment forgiveness is activated. Giving up bitterness along with the need to punish is a clear demonstration of forgiveness in action. An attitude of forgiveness produces hope for future happiness.



The desire to forgive is empowering. It gives up the demand for retaliation. Once a commitment has been made to forgive, memories of the hurtful behavior may surface to obstruct the commitment to forgive. A key step in giving or receiving forgiveness is absorbing the pain that must be endured until it is cleansed from your heart and soul.

To break the chains of anger and resentment, the forgiving person may need to reaffirm their commitment to forgive. The resurgence of resentment will try to negate the progress forgiveness is capable of achieving. Remember, God will empower you by way of the Holy Spirit to help you restore your resolve to forgive. 

 ______________________

“The Lord’s Spirit has come to me, because he has chosen me to tell the good news to the poor. The Lord has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free everyone who suffers.”

~Luke 4:18 Contemporary English Version

Plant your feet firmly therefore within the freedom that Christ has won for us, and do not let yourselves be caught again in the shackles of slavery.
~Galatians 5:1 Phillips - New Testament in Modern English

Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get long with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

~Romans 12:17-19 The Message

Letter to Self: Let Go and Forgive!

With every personal loss, forgiveness will in some ways have to be acknowledged and addressed. Important losses may include a significant other’s deception or hurtful behavior. Everyone experiences anger, guilt and sadness that push forgiveness to the forefront for healing. Reluctance to forgive indicates the need for revenge.

Forgiveness requires emotionally letting go of a painful loss. When a relationship breaks up, the one not pursuing the separation may suffer the deepest anguish and pain. If panic and anxiety dominate, forgiveness may immediately be offered, hoping for reconciliation. If anger and hate dominate, however, forgiveness may not be forthcoming.

Some people find it impossible to let go of hope for reconciliation even after the other person is involved in a new relationship. Relinquishing this attachment feels like one's very existence is in jeopardy. Yet Jesus, the great physician, heals the brokenhearted when given the chance to do so. Forgiveness opens the door for God to heal you.  

___________________

…The Lord has chosen me and sent me to tell the oppressed the good news, to heal the brokenhearted…The Lord has sent me to comfort those who mourn.

~Isaiah 61:1-2 Contemporary English Version

…and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

~Matthew 6:12 The Living Bible

Only One Acceptable Option

When consideration is given to whom I'm willing to forgive and for what offense, I then believe there are self-prescribed limitations to the breadth and scope of forgiveness. However, this attitude does not comply with the standards of Christian faith since to forgive is without question the pathway to peace and joy.

To refuse to see the potential loss for not forgiving is to believe anger and bitterness are the more acceptable options. Some believe forgiveness is letting people off the hook for bad, hurtful behavior. However, when you forgive, you are letting yourself off the hook. Anger and bitterness give witness to sadness and pain.

Forgiveness helps individuals accept how their future happiness and peace of mind can be nurtured while simultaneously pleasing Christ Jesus. If you need to forgive someone, perhaps you could begin with this prayer: "Heavenly Father, help me develop a forgiving attitude toward the one who hurt me so deeply." Pray this prayer every day. God will bless you and give you freedom to enjoy your life.  

____________________

He does not punish us as we deserve or repay us according to our sins and wrongs.

As high as the sky is above the earth, so great is his love for those who honor him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us.

~Psalm 103:10-12 Good News Bible

Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses.

~Proverbs 10:12 Good News Bible