Why forgive God?
Have you forgiven God? As Lary and I talked one morning about life and tough times in our past, I almost said but caught myself, “I forgive Him”. The thought grabbed me. I bit my tongue and chastised myself for almost going there. I began to think…
I began to think maybe I need to go there. And, maybe you do too. Can we accept that God is big enough, secure enough, loving enough to have that conversation? Because we have to believe He can take it, even welcome it, or we will continue to hide hurt that only He can heal.
As my mind drifted, I began to think about Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist. Portions of a verse came to mind, “…God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.” (Or who are not offended by me.) Luke 7:23 NLT
Why in the world would someone turn away from Jesus or be offended by Him? Well, I can think of a reason pretty quick.
He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present and stinking stuff still happens. In John’s situation he was imprisoned unjustly and maybe he thought the Messiah he was looking for would have a little political clout as he set up a kingdom. Maybe take control of the situation John was enduring for the sake of the gospel. For you and I…
Our loved ones still die
Our kids still get on the wrong track
Cancer still attacks our bodies
The love of our life still walks out
Bankruptcy still happens
Our hearts get broken, promises get broken…Do you see yourself in there?
Am I the only one that has just wanted to growl at times and say, “Hey Lord, helloooooo! I’m mad at You!? You have let me down. Where were you when…? You could have stopped… You could have healed…saved…intervened…” Well, let’s say it. Mercy, He’s probably been waiting on us to say it. David filled the book of Psalms with those kind of conversations.
He knows we have those feelings. Jesus, with compassion and understanding, realized we might just want to walk away from Him because of the tragedies and challenges we face.
Oh dear friend, I have been spitting mad at God before. I have cried and fussed and have been like M’lynn in Steel Magnolias and thought, “I just want to hit something”.
So what do we hit? Our knees.
Where else can we go? God hates the way this thing turned out too. Bad things don’t come from Him. When He gave us free will, He knew all sort of craziness was on the horizon. Thankfully He made a way for our salvation along with a promise that this life was not all there was. We have a hope for the future.
I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” John 16:33 (MSG)
Some things in this world are just not good. No matter how you spin them, they land the same way, upside down. Paul wrote in his letter to the churches in Rome, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 ESV) Notice he didn’t say everything was good. He said God takes all the bad, the good, the happy, the sad, the pain, the brokenness and like a master chef works them together into something good. Sometimes we see good quickly and other times, the good may only become apparent much later, if at all, on this side of heaven. We can be assured that God never allows bad without some kind of eternal significance.
Are you willing to have that talk with God? Will you open your heart to Him? Tell Him you’re mad and then let Him tell you He understands. He hates sin and pain more that we do. This was never His perfect plan.
Talk to Him. He can handle it. I promise.
Joining in with Kelly Balarie @ Purposeful Faith #raralinkup, Holly Barrett @ Testimony Tuesday, Kristin Hill Taylor @ Three Word Wednesday and Anita Ojeda @ Inspire Me Monday
This was beautiful, Carmen. There’s nothing wrong with being honest (and angry with God)–but I’ve never thought about how it’s and experience we must go through in order to heal.
Anita it has been a very necessary step for my healing. I wondered why He didn’t change some things. Let them happen in a different way. I see now that things had to happen the way they did. What happened was wrong but God had a bigger plan and definitely used those broken times to bring about good. Glad to see your smiling face!
What encouragement here! I think it’s important to remember not everything is good in the moment, but it all is part of something good God is doing. He redeems it all. Thanks for sharing this at #ThreeWordWednesday. So happy to have you there!
Thank you Kristin. I for once had a title with three words :) I have been anxious to join in with your community. You have a beautiful site with many wonderful writers sharing their hearts.
I sure am glad God redeems that bad stuff. He is so loving and faithful. I’m glad you stopped by for a visit. Come again soon!
Amen, Carmen. Keeping short accounts with God and being honest before the One who knows our hearts inside and out. It’s transforming really to let loose the hurt and know that He can handle our “spitting mad” moments. It translates so beautifully into us being honest and transparent with one another – linking arms and walking this path of faith willing to admit that things aren’t always neat and tidy. Leaning into grace. So blessed to have been your neighbor at Kristin’s link up. Blessings to you!
I just love things neat and tidy don’t you Tiffany? You are so right though, they rarely are. Those times remind me of the old song, “I Need Thee Every Hour”. Thanks for hoping over for a visit!
Oh Carmen, this is one of the best posts that I’ve read today! I think so often we hide and sulk instead of entering GOD’S PRESENCE and truly giving HIM what’s on our hearts. This was a great reminder to always be honest and transparent with GOD no matter how we feel! Thank you for sharing! Infinite blessings to you, Love! :-)
Thanks Tai. I always love seeing your sweet face. Honesty and transparency – good advice Tai. God bless. Thanks for visiting!
I agree, these types of conversations are vital. In order for God’s mercy and healing water to flow and enrich our lives, we must also be able to forgive Him for those things we hold him accountable for. Beautifully written!
Hello Mitzi! Thanks for your kind words. I love your thought “In order for God’s mercy and healing water to flow” we must forgive Him. So hard but so needed. Come again soon!
Beautifully written post and a freeing message!
Often in life we don’t understand the things that happen… our soul learns to trust God even when we don’t have all the answers and it hurts. He is so patient and good to us and always ready to work all things for the good!
Blessings :)
Welcome Danise! Love the different spelling of your name. Trusting when we don’t understand is one of the hardest things to do. For me anyway. God’s infinite patience amazes me. Thanks for visiting. Come again soon!
I love the honesty in the Psalms and pray that I can lament before the Lord like he did. God wants us to be honest before Him and brings us to our knees. I once heard that it is when we hit rock bottom, then we start looking up. Those that follow the Lord are on the narrow road, but God never leaves our side. Thank you for sharing Carmen! God bless :)
Hey Ruth! The Psalms are some of my favorite reading. They are so “real”. Glad you stopped by my little corner of the great big web today. Many blessings on you.
Oh yes, I’ve told God before that I’m mad, or disappointed. And I encourage others to do the same. When we hit our knees (as you say :-) ) and get real with God in prayer, we experience His grace, receive His answers.
Yes ma’am Betsy. Complete healing just can’t happen without that conversation. Thanks for visiting today!
“So what do we hit? Our knees.” Carmen, I could feel the frustration, those emotions that push us to hit something as I read this. But then came the “our knees” part. So true. When we sit at the throne, beautiful things happen. Enjoyed your post today. :-)
Hello my friend Kristi! Sometimes my stiff legs and heart have made it hard to get on my knees. When a girl is mad, she’s mad! He is patiently waiting for us to bend our legs. It sure does begin to feel better when we do. Glad you visited today!
God looks at our heart. He knows we are angry, bitter and resentful. While we are so prone, like Eve, to want to run and hide, the Lord calls us to bare it all. Thank you for this Carmen. Thank you for calling us to authenticity. Loved it!
Kelly, isn’t it amazing that God knows how we feel yet He is so patient to help work through the process? Amazing love our Kind has for us. I’m glad you stopped by. Thanks!
How beautiful Carmen! And yes, we need to have those conversations with Him!
Why does it seem the conversations we need to have are the hardest to have? I’m glad God is full of patience and love. He waits on us to allow Him to work on our hearts. Thank you Lord! Thanks for stopping by friend <3
Carmen, I think I could sit and learn from you all day! Beautiful words. I used to try to hide my feelings from God — especially if I thought the way I was feeling toward Him was unacceptable (anger, frustration, etc.). Then my priest pointed out that God already knows how I feel. So denying it is, in a way, like lying to God. When I was honest with God, oh my GOODNESS! Such a weight was lifted from my shoulders. Now it’s so nice to be real with Him. It’s like a relationship. When you finally start being real with the other person, it just seems to take the relationship to a whole new level. Thank you, thank you for continuing to share your heart with us and for blessing us with your words!
Awww Jenni you are so kind. I have learned much from you as well. Your sweet little one had one of those diseases that makes you want to scream. You certainly can speak to working through some difficult feelings. I cannot imagine how you have felt. Thanks for joining in. You are dear to me. Blessings on you!
I remember coming to this realization years ago, and what it all boils down to is that God can handle it. But we can’t handle going through life w/unforgiveness seeping in our hearts. He doesn’t need us to forgive Him, we’re the ones in need of that all important conversation. It’s a strange thing to think about it at first, because of our knowledge of who God is. But when bad stuff happens we most definitely are angry with him. I had the same thought as you: the Psalms are full of these conversations. Thanks for shedding light on this important aspect of healing! :)
Caroline I agree, like all acts of forgiveness, it’s more for us than them. It just feels so strange. So irreverent. Of course, being angry with God and trying to hide it is so hurtful for us. Thankfully we serve a big God with big shoulders! Thanks for coming by. Be blessed!