Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. - Colossians 3:13
In a recent vlog on my YouTube channel, I talked about how the Lord has been dealing with me concerning the area of forgiveness. To be honest, it has been a challenge because I’ve been wrestling between my faith and my emotions. My emotions tell me that I have a right to be upset while my faith reminds me of scriptures like Colossians 3:13. Honestly, this has been very humbling for me because God has been revealing my heart to me and I have had to make the choice to follow my faith or my feelings.
Let’s take a deeper look at Colossians 3:13. To make allowance means to prepare for, plan for, overlook, and pardon.
Here is a key point that I want you to remember. People are not perfect. You have to remember that, just like you and I are not perfect, neither are the people around us so we have to be ready to face disappointment at times. It doesn’t mean that you are supposed to expect the worse from people but it means that you have to know that someone you love and care about is not always going to get things right in the relationship that you have with them. So what do you do when that happens? Do you choose forgiveness or feelings?
A question that has been on my heart is “Lord, how do I forgive someone that has hurt me deeply?” We do this by extending the same grace that is extended to us every day. Here’s the truth. As an act of pardoning the sins of the people during the Bible days and for the sins of future generations, God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you and me. Without that selfless act of love and grace, we would not be here.
When you choose to forgive, you close any doors that the enemy could use to plant bitterness, anger, or resentment inside of you. Choosing to forgive requires a change in your mindset. You have to change your mindset from what you believe you deserve from the other person to a posture of humility.
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. - Romans 12:3
Sometimes when someone has offended us, our focus is on all of what they did wrong to us and how we are not at fault for anything. But that can easily turn into pride and that is what this scripture in Romans is referring to. You have to take control of your thoughts and not allow any thoughts to linger that fuels unforgiveness.
Being able to fully forgive begins with the choice that you don’t want to be bound by unforgiveness. We think that not forgiving someone affects us but it does because we are now in a state of bondage that produces a lack of trust in people. Walking in forgiveness frees you from that and breaks down the emotional and mental barriers.
The best way you learn how to forgive is through your relationship with the Father. He is the mender of broken hearts and frees us from guilt and shame.
He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
He counts the stars
and calls them all by name.
How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!
The Lord supports the humble,
but he brings the wicked down into the dust. - Psalm 147:3-6