Why is forgiving another person easier than forgiving myself? For the last couple weeks this question has plagued my thoughts. We are told to forgive each other for the mistakes or pains they have caused us. But what about when we cause pain or harm to ourselves...Why is it harder?
Many times I will replay a situation in my head where I thought to myself "How could I have been so stupid?" or "Why did I say that?" Which in turn is causing me to doubt myself and think that I could be better or I hate myself. Colossians 3:13 says
'Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.' So the Lord forgives me and others forgive me but I can't forgive myself. Does that make any sense?
Another thing I have heard about forgiveness is Forgive but not Forget. I don't understand this philosophy on forgiveness at all. If I forgive someone should I be dropping the issue which is to forget it. Not forgive and then bring up again at a later time. I know it is hard to forget something someone did to you but if you don't think you can forget it should you forgive them for it. I would personally say until you are ready to completely drop the issue or pain that person caused you thats when you should in your heart truly forgive them. Otherwise you are just hurting yourself and that other person when you say you forgive them but bring up that hurt up to them again or to others over and over.
The same philosophy should go to me or you, when we hurt ourselves. Christ was sent for our us to be forgiven. So because of God sending down His son Jesus we are forgiven. As long as we bring forward the hurt we had done against Him and believe that Jesus Christ died in our place then God forgives us like that. So we are not forgiving like God when we say we forgive someone but can not forget what they had done to us or what we do to ourselves. I know it is hard to be that person to forgive and forget but we must try to do that for ourselves and for others to make this a better place to be. No matter how big the hurt is we only forgive like God forgave us if we do as He would and forget what we did that needed forgiveness in the first place.
I am working on forgiving myself slowly but surely. I hope you one day you are able to completely forgive the harm someone has done to you or the harm you are doing to yourself.
Thank you for reading and God Bless,
Amy
