This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad to be in it.
The questions that I have been pondering in my mind for a while are:
- What heals a broken spirit?
2. What heals a broken heart?
3. How can one decree God’s love and forgiveness if we are holding on to our brokenness?
I ask these questions because I see that some people never go past the pain of what they have felt or experienced in the past. A lot of us have traces of this brokenness. There’s that lingering pain that never fades or disappears completely in most of us. It just depends on how extreme the pain is for every individual. It takes God’s grace to heal what can’t be pinpointed as the root cause for inflicting pain or enduring it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The grace that God awards us, is also about willingly embracing the grace we get. The grace that we receive from God translates to the grace towards other human beings.
Destruction comes in many forms. Oftentimes, destruction is seen as a continuation of being attacked by the same people you give grace to. Most people expect changed behavior due to the grace that they give to others. And when they can’t see that in others, it can end in broken connections. Therefore, it becomes harder to forgive those who have done you wrong.
When a person exhibits the same behavior after an intervention or being awarded grace. Does it mean that they are undeserving of forgiveness?
Sometimes people get so into other people’s business that they can’t move forward with their lives without causing themselves pain. It’s hard for others to move forward if they don’t get the desired outcome from what they deem as a disservice to their peace. Nothing can make them move forward, except the very grace of God.
Grace is the reward of healing a broken heart. Nothing makes a person appreciate forgiveness more, especially when they know that the person they have offended is not hurting or holding grudges against them.
It’s the releasing of people that makes a person strong in life. We never get to experience grace at the level where it is only us who are anticipating it. We appreciate it more when we receive grace from God.
But, grace is more powerful when it translates to the people around us. When we give each other grace we are healed of a broken heart. That’s the most powerful tool that anyone can use to heal from a broken heart or spirit. And to forgive others. The practical component is harder to practice than to read about it or talk about it, especially when you are hurt by those you love the most. Unforgiveness stifles growth in one’s life.
3 John 1: 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
Our mental health is linked to how we relate to others and our environment. The soul needs to prosper. When your body is in health, so will your soul’s prosperity. It’s about being rich in the fruit of the spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
There are moments when we can feel that we are no longer thriving in our lives. The relationships we have, sometimes get stuck when we can’t forgive each other or tell each other the truth.
We suffer in silence when we know that we can’t love without certain conditions or circumstances. Then, we have to pray about the condition of our hearts or souls. It’s more unbearable when we believe the other person can change their behavior. It’s like holding on to a fault as an offense to our character or personality. It’s something that we direct to the level of respect towards us.
The correlation between love and heartlessness is deeply related to unforgiveness or deep-seated pain. Unfortunately, those who are in pain don’t consider themselves victims when they have not dealt with the wounds that are causing them to hurt others or themselves.
2 Corinthians 10: 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds
A forgiving heart cannot be broken, if we learn to forgive others without making them feel the guilt of what they have done to us in the past. We can heal from a broken heart or spirit. Forgiveness is the liberation we give our minds and souls so that we can progress in our lives.
There’s nothing that another person can do that will make us love them any less when we have let go of the burden of carrying the hurt by giving it to God for understanding, love, and wisdom. It takes self-control, joy, patience– especially through enduring continued behavior, faithfulness, kindness, and all that the fruit of the Holy Spirit can give us. The change in our walk with others will bear witness to the change we hope for in our lives when we sincerely forgive each other.
