At one time in my adult life, I prayed that God would do something bad to the people who had harmed me. I prayed that in return for the harm that they had caused me, that they too might suffer a little. I did not want to forgive them. I learned after my life almost fell apart, that forgiveness had to happen… it was a choice that I had to make in order for me to receive healing.
God is a God of love even to those whom we don’t like because they have hurt us. He loves them as much as He loves us. God instructs us to pray for our enemies, to bless those who curse us… bless and curse not, He says. I did not want to pray for my enemies. In fact, I did not want to bless them either. I learned that I was not hurting them when I refused to forgive. I hurt only myself. Forgiveness in the sight of God is the key, which unlocks the doors to our future.
There was a man in the bible named Job who had some detestable so-called friends. Job also had a wife who told him to curse God for all that had happened to him. In restoring everything that Job lost, the requirement God put to him was that he would get everything back double only when he prayed for those men who had hurt him. In Job 42, you can read for yourself how God restored back a double portion of everything this man lost.
One night as I listened to a news program, in Montgomery, Alabama. On this particular program, I heard a mother stand up in court and ask the judge not to give a man, who had been convicted of raping and killing her daughter, the death penalty. I wondered how could she have done such a thing. She later told reporters on the television news that she had to forgive him in order to keep herself from falling into a life of bitterness.
When this type tragedy happens in a family, many times their life ends up being destroyed if they allow their lives to become bitter instead of better. Some victims have even gone so far as to go and witness the execution of someone who took their loved ones from them. I can understand how easy this type thing can be, but bitterness and anger will not bring even one loved one back.
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