The Process of Forgiveness

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.” Genesis 39:1 (NIV)

How do you reverse the curse? How do you bring healing to the family after the virus of unforgiveness has infected your family? It is vital that you recognize the process of forgiveness. The process begins with pain. You identify the pain related to the offense. Someone may have hurt you, neglected you, or offended you. Those closest to us can often wound us the most.

At some point in the process, the pain of unforgiveness becomes greater than the pain of the original offense. God will not allow unforgiveness to reside in you without pain. Harboring unforgiveness does not align with God’s will.

In the process of forgiveness, you will experience dual pain: the pain of the offense and the pain of unforgiveness. The dual pain will bring you to a place of personal conviction. You will begin to recall that you cannot have a right relationship with God if you do not have a right relationship with others.

You begin recognizing that life is too short to live with a strained relationship. Then you move into compassion. God allows you to brush up against the cross and feel the love and forgiveness Jesus lavished on you. His mercy and His grace begin to grip you personally and you are overwhelmed with His unconditional love. That experience moves you into compassion.

Acknowledge that you don’t deserve the forgiveness Jesus has extended to you. Let compassion flow as you confess to Jesus in private that you now choose to forgive the one who offended you. Consciously articulate in prayer to Jesus the desires of your heart. Bring honor to Jesus by extending forgiveness privately in prayer.

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell