But John has never forgiven me! – 8th May 2007

“I feel so dreadful, I did this bad thing to John and I’ve asked him to forgive me but he won’t. What can I do?”

John is punishing Susan. Susan is really sorry, but John remains bitter and hurting and won’t forgive Susan. What does God think about that? Is he interested in punishing Susan? Consider things from God’s point of view – the big picture:

“I made you out of love, to flourish and be complete. To be who you were made to be you need to behave like X. You behave like Y, so I have a right to punish you. I didn’t make you so that I could punish you, so return to me and I’ll forgive you, then leave your life of sin and stop behaving like Y.”

Susan wants to behave differently – she’s learnt her lesson, and so God no longer holds it over her (unlike John) but forgives her so that she can move on to be the woman that she was made to be. But how can she do that if John won’t forgive her? Consider God’s view again:

“I love both John and Susan. I want them both to become who they should be, and so (as Jesus tells us) they must both forgive. But as John will not forgive he is now sinning. Do I condemn Susan because of John’s sin? Of course not. So if Susan truly wants forgiveness then she can have it.”

But how will Susan know this? We have to tell her! That is why God has given us the authority to declare His forgiveness to everyone who truly wants it.

Do you know anyone who has been weighed down by the bitterness, judgement and unforgiveness of others who needs to hear of God’s forgiveness today?

God bless