Thank you for joining my A-Z journey
to explore ways to add meaning to our lives.
Today is the sixth day – the letter “F.”
F = Faith & Forgiveness
They go hand-in-hand. One invites the other.
Photo by Jasmine Wallace Carter on Pexels.com
FAITH
Faith is belief in the unseen. To look beyond the obvious and see endless possibilities adds depth and meaning to our lives. It opens us to gifts beyond measure.
In Mark 9:22-24, a father of a mute son said to Jesus, “If you can do anything, do it! Have a heart and help us!”
Jesus replied, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts.”
In their book, Spiritual Literacy,
Frederic & Mary Ann Brussat talk about faith,
“Recognize and accept that
there is another dimension to life
than what is obvious to us.
Live with obstacles, doubt, and paradox,
knowing that God is always present in the world.”
FORGIVENESS
And because we believe in the God who is our Creator, and the One He sent to forgive us for our repeated wrong-doings to ourselves and one another, we also have the capacity to forgive.
The Brussats wrote about forgiveness:
“In both your private and public lives,
discover the sweet release
that comes from forgiving others.
Feel the healing balm
of being forgiven and
of forgiving yourself.”
Enjoy the sweet smell
Of receiving and giving
Forgiveness’ balm
UNFORGIVENESS
“I am a wretched sinner! I am going to Hell!” Mark shouted from his nursing home bed.
“Mark, we all have sinned. We all make mistakes. None of us is perfect. You have asked God to forgive you. He has! You need to forgive yourself!”
“I can’t! You don’t know how bad my sin is! You don’t know what I did! I can never forgive myself! I am miserable,” Mark moaned.
My friend, Mark, died later that week!
I don’t know if he was able to forgive himself on his deathbed, but I believe our Lord and Savior died so that Mark could be forgiven. He did believe in God. He professed his belief many times.
John 20:21-23 says,
“Again Jesus said to His disciples,
‘Peace be with you!
As the Father has sent me,
I am sending you.
And… He breathed on them and said,
‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive anyone his sins,
they are forgiven’ …”
Are you looking for more meaning, more purpose,
and a peace that permeates your soul?
Live in Faith, my friends.
Know the Holy Spirit lives in you,
and know You ARE Forgiven.
You do not need to end your life crying in misery.
Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that by believing you will have eternal life in His name.
“Forgive them, for they know not what they do!”
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.
He is risen indeed!
Be at peace!
Comments on: "Finding Faith & Forgiveness" (5)
Another good one. When I think of forgive and forget, I always agree with the forgive bit, but not forget
Yes, Derrick, the forgetting may not always be possible. But you can tuck it so far back that it rarely rears its ugly head!
Great message… my parents hurt my feelings over spring break and I’ve been reluctant to let it go, so forgiveness is a great message for me this spring. Thanks Jan…
Only the unforgiving are hurt by lack of forgiveness – you know that. So, you can be sure I will pray today for your forgiving heart. I am sure they did not mean to hurt your feelings. As parents, we sometimes forget our job is not to continue parenting our adult children. 🤪
Thanks Jan… I’ll work on that… 🥰