Big Forgiving Faith

June 5, 2023

 Scripture

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’”
  (Mark 11:24-25 NIVUK) 

 Big  Forgiving Faith 

As we keep reading accounts of the events in Ukraine, bombs raining down incessantly on civilian populations and children dying or being wounded physically and emotionally, I can’t begin to imagine the anger in the psyches of parents and friends as they see the madness first hand and know to whom to direct the anger and hatred. 

Susan and I were chatting the other day about a time when our kids were teens and some of their peers were victims of a predator in a youth group.  Susan said that she was glad we didn’t have to face that with our own kids or even deal with the anger and desire for retribution that would have been my first response.  

I heard parents of these victims grapple with the long process of forgiveness -the first step is not seeking revenge. But it is a long and difficult road to forgiveness. I takes great faith in God to not act on that first response. I read the following story when I was thinking about this;

A brother who was insulted by another brother came to Abba Sisois and said to him: ‘I was hurt by my brother, and I want to avenge myself.’ The old man tried to console him and said: ‘Do not do that, my child. Rather leave vengeance to God.’ But he said: ‘I will not quit until I avenge myself.’ Then the old man said: ‘Let us pray, brother.’ And standing up he said: ‘O God, we no longer need you to take care of us since we now avenge ourselves.’ Hearing these words, the brother fell at the feet of the old man and said: ‘I am not going to fight with my brother any more. Forgive me, Abba.’  (Celtic Daily Prayer  The Northumbria Community, HarperCollins Publishers) 

It takes great faith to believe we have forgiven another when the wounds are fresh and the pain is real. We forgive, believing it is the healthy thing for us in our relationship with God. It’s hard to approach God with honesty if we harbour grudges that He would forgive.  

A Prayer for Today

Loving God, you have made us like yourself, in your image, in the image of Jesus to love and serve you with all our strength and hearts. But we carry anger at slights, desire for vengeance sometimes in the face of real unjust wounds but you call us to find the deep forgiveness that wishes the best for the perpetrator ( while allowing for them to take responsibility for their actions).  It’s a big ask. Increase our faith …. For Jesus’ sake