Passionate Pursuit of My Offender

“. . . How are you going to apply this message to your life this week?” 

There was a silence and a stillness in the room as the question lingered in the air. It felt like everyone was looking at me for a response. Did they know? How could they know? Was my unforgiveness that visible? Like the character Demi Moore played in “The Scarlet Letter,” it felt like there was a huge sign on my forehead that identified my sin. It seemed like all of heaven was in suspense . . . waiting to see if this would be the conviction that finally stuck, that actually bore fruit.

This question, posed in my Sunday school class, was a final salvo from the Lord’s arsenal to penetrate my hard heartedness and unforgiveness. He had sent messenger after messenger, sermon after sermon. I had read book after book on forgiveness . . . I think maybe not so much for encouragement in forgiveness, but perhaps looking for a loophole.  And yet, He continued to pursue my heart . . . never giving up on me. 

As I wept, I felt His peace wash over me. It’s going to be alright. Just trust me. I am Jehovah Rapha. I am your Healer. I can heal your heart of its brokenness. The shackles were finally broken and I was able to respond in true love again because of His awesome power.

I am free today . . . not because I am a super-Christian who has finally mastered the art of forgiveness, but because in my poverty of soul, He has entered in and carried me along. His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

I’m learning to pray for the persons who I kept at an arm’s length for so long–that His blessings and hand of protection would be upon them. And perhaps more importantly . . . I pray just as mightily for my own heart, that it would never again languish in the prison of unforgiveness. 

How about you? Are there persons God is calling you to pursue passionately in forgiveness? You can trust Him. There is nothing–absolutely nothing–too hard for God!

About the Author

Karen Waddles

Karen Waddles is assistant to the publisher at Moody Publishers, a conference speaker, and a contributing author of Our Voices: Issues Facing Black Women in America and The Women of Color Study Bible. She and her husband, George, who … read more …


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