Hurt: A Devotional

" Hate stirs up trouble, but love overlooks all offenses."

Proverbs 10:12

"Love does not keep a record of wrongs."

1 Corinthians 13:5

Dear Reader,

Here is a tough question. You've been hurt, badly treated, perhaps slandered. You are in the process of forgiving the person(s) who hurt you daily, and you may even be praying that God will bless them. But what about that deep hurt that remains? What do you do about that? How does one get rid of it? And if you do somehow manage to throw that hurt in the dustbin, won't it jump out at you daily, taking you by surprise and clutch at your heart?

Will you need to deal with it every day until you leave your earthly home? You may ask, shouldn't these difficult people be made to pay for the way they hurt me? Surely burying the hurt will negate my pain?

They're all heartfelt but difficult questions. What I do know, is that God's Word is clear. We must forgive. And we must cover up the traces of those hurts in love.

Well, how? You may ask. I am certainly too weak to do that. It's impossible. Yes. It is impossible for you to do on your own. You will need to be born again and filled with the Holy Spirit to do it. Then God will give you the power to forgive, to overlook, and yes, even to love. 

We may not be able to solve every problem, and we certainly cannot change people, but much can be done if we trust God to help, strengthen and empower us.

God wants us to have abundant life here on earth as well as eternal life. When we forgive and put our hurts aside, this abundant life can be ours.

Note: Forgiveness is often a process especially when wounds are deep. Make the choice to forgive through the power of the Holy Spirit. Give your hurts to God. As you walk with God and remain in Him each day, you may still find that anger, hurt, and unforgiveness, rise up in your thoughts and mind. Don't panic. You have forgiven. Stop and pray, giving everything back to the Lord. You will know what you need to say to the Lord. Pour out your heart and allow Him to comfort and strengthen you. You will find tremendous help and comfort in His Word.

It is wonderful that restoration may often occur within relationships. However, where there has been abuse, it may be necessary to distance oneself from the perpetrator. Forgiveness and laying aside one's hurt are still effective in these circumstances.

***

Love and blessings,

Alison

Scripture quotations: Good News Bible. Today's English Version. (Anglicised text)