Obstacles To Forgiveness

When exploring forgiveness I came across some very interesting research which highlighted the many barriers that prevent us from truly forgiving. Fighting to make sure that guilt, shame, bitterness and resentment do not consume you is only half of the battle. For many of us reconciliation with the Most High Creator God can be difficult, even after confession. Some of us can recite scripture from memory such as 1 John 1:19 , which says; “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. But, even though we know Christ’s death atoned for our sins, some still feel stained and unworthy inside. That darkness from the things they have done can hover around them, walking before them and weighing them down, affecting their social interactions. We as believers need to identify these tools of the adversary so that they do not interfere with our process of ultimate heart change. Spiritual transformation into the person that the Most High wants us to be, as members of His kingdom. So the next few blog’s will focus on a few obstacles to forgiveness.

Let’s begin with obstacle #1; “I can’t forgive myself for what I have done”. Many of us feel that the grace and mercy of Christ has let them off the hook for their immorality, lapses in judgement and/or wrongdoings, a bit too easily. But, contrary to popular belief, this mindset is not justifiable for the believer in the Most High Creator God and His holy word. When one refuses to forgive themselves, they are in essence positioning themselves and their level of discernment above that of the Most High Creator God. If you are feeling like you cannot forgive yourself, I challenge you to reflect on this question; “What right do I as a mere mortal have to hang on to past mistakes when the Creator of the Universe has already let them go. Critically unpacking scripture you will find that it does not convey the premise that we must forgive ourselves. It is actually the morally justifiable responsibility of the individual who has been wronged to bestow forgiveness on the person who has wronged them. Once this gift of forgiveness is imparted, the offender is to accept it freely. Since God is the one who, has been wronged, it is His choice to forgive or not. The Most High wants to forgive us so much that He sent Christ to be the ultimate sacrifice, so that we can be forgiven. Once we are forgiven our sins are gone. Micah 7:19 states “ He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea”. If the Creator can forgive you, you can forgive you.