“But forgiveness is our invitation to process the pain so we can be authentically freed from it.”- Esther Fleece
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”- Matthew 6:14
In Chapter 9 (“Forgive Me”) of No More Faking Fine, Esther Fleece discusses the topic of forgiveness. The author observes that at times we mire ourselves in emotions like resentment and jealousy. Furthermore, some days we stubbornly refuse a change of heart. However, Esther believes, one prayer frees us when we’re dragged down by our emotions, unable to move- the prayer for forgiveness.
Ms. Fleece posits that we need the ability to fully lament in order to fully forgive. Thus, without forgiveness, we live within our own vicious cycle of pain and bitterness. Esther explains:
“And I am fully convinced that we cannot forgive offenses without first lamenting these offenses appropriately. We need the grace of God, the example of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us look favorably upon a person who has wronged us. And we first need to lament the wrong that has been done to us.”
Consequently, Esther points out, you must fight for forgiveness. However, it’s even harder to carry around a backpack of lies you’ve believed. Just because you’ve failed to utilize lament.
In conclusion, Ms. Fleece notes that one meaning of the Greek word for forgiveness used in Matthew 6:14 (aphiemi) =”to send.” Therefore, forgiveness means “to send away,” “to release,” or “to permit to depart.”
Lament allow us to release these hurts through forgiveness. As a result, those hurts stop harming us.
Today’s question: How have you used forgiveness to process the pain of your ministry downsizing or vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “When we minimize pain, we minimize forgiveness”
