An Amazing Expression of Love: Forgiveness

Joseph forgave his brothers for the suffering he endured because he chose to be free of anger and resentment. Joseph could have punished them severely but instead chose to give them freedom by forgiving them. In doing so, he gave himself the gift of happiness as well as the gift of freedom from anger and bitterness. 

Forgiveness is an expression of love that puts another person's feelings, needs and happiness on par with oneself. The objective is an enhanced quality of life that forgiveness brings to oneself and others. Love may be the most important component of forgiveness because it requires a demonstration of mercy and compassion.

To accomplish this task, remember: forgiveness is never given nor received without sacrificing something of yourself. The Lord God paid a profound price to forgive and cleanse us from sin by sending Jesus to die on the cross for our redemption. As we have received God’s forgiveness, let us freely extend forgiveness to others.  

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Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.

~Genesis 50:19-21 New Living Translation

Yet the proof of God’s amazing love is this: it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us.

~Romans 5:8 Phillips – The New Testament in Modern English

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

~Luke 23:34 New International Version

The Costs of Insecurity

Insecurity is one of the most difficult feelings to manage when
activating forgiveness. Insecurity produced by a personal weakness might be attributed to the inability to trust even when conditions appear safe. Another weakness is lack of impulse control, which allows for spontaneous actions before analyzing their consequences. 

The desire to please is so strong in some people, they fail to establish boundaries against being hurt in the future. An unrealistic desire to please could be based on the need to keep life predictable. Whether true forgiveness can take place under these conditions is questionable, but as conflict diminishes, hopefully life returns to a controlled normal.

Feelings of insecurity create suffering; therefore, it’s imperative to examine the source, so forgiveness can take place. While God will not force anyone to be forgiving, he paves the way to make forgiveness a viable choice. Trust God to create situations where forgiveness can move forward as he makes your forgiveness possible.  

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You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you.

~Proverbs 28:13 Good News Bible

Always be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Be glad. Always be gentle with others. The Lord will soon be here. Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand, and this peace will control the way you think and feel.

~Philippians 4:4-7 Contemporary English Version