Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself and others because it frees you from the burden of carrying past pain and allows you to live a more fulfilling and compassionate life. It brings healing to both the forgiver and the forgiven. It is an act of letting go of resentment, the desire for revenge and instead choose empathy and understanding. Forgiveness does not overlook or excuse the hurtful actions of others but allows individuals to move forward with their lives.
In 2015, I went through one of the darkest periods of my life. I hit rock bottom emotionally, physically, and spiritually when I was wrongfully accused and slandered by people whom I deemed as my spiritual role models. Even though, innocent, my name was the headline for all their conversations. If it had not been for the Lord on my side, I would have lost my sanity.
That was a major storm of my life. It contributed to me being withdrawn and bitter. It took a toll on my well-being because my flesh pined away. As a human my instinct was to retaliate to appease my wrath, but I remembered the word of God, “vengeance is mine…”
I asked God many whys and how often should my accusers be forgiven. In response to that, my mind went back to the scripture seventy times seven. I think to myself they have 489 more shots. I forgave and moved on because I know that there is power in forgiveness. It helped me to move pass the situation and be reliant on God’s grace to look beyond the hurt.
The power of forgiveness helps in:
- Restoring Relationships–Forgiveness has the power to repair damaged relationships. When someone acknowledges his mistakes, seeks forgiveness and the other person is willing to forgive, it can lead to reconciliation.
- Empowering: Forgiveness can be empowering because it puts the power back in the hands of the person who was hurt. By choosing to forgive, one takes control of his emotional well-being and refuses to be defined solely by the hurt.
- Physical Health Benefits: Studies revealed that forgiveness is linked to better physical health outcomes. Letting go of grudges and resentment may lead to lower stress levels, improved immune function and overall better health.
- Spiritual Aspect: Many religious traditions emphasize forgiveness as a means of inner peace and spiritual growth. It is often seen to connect one with a greater purpose.
It’s important to recognize that forgiveness is personal, and it is a process it might not always be easy or possible in every situation. Some hurts may be deep, and forgiveness may take time and effort.
Written by Shanae Cooper-Robinson
Jamaica