The Difficulty Of Forgiveness
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” — Matthew 5:44
Love my enemies? How am I supposed to let go of the hurt?
These were questions I asked whenever I tried to forgive. This forgiveness “thing” felt so difficult to understand and practice.
But instead of trying to force forgiveness, I realized that if I could know why forgiveness was so difficult then that would help me learn how to forgive.
So I asked myself why forgiveness was so difficult, and I discovered the two major reasons which are tied together.
The Reasons
– Judging the offender
– Attachment to our views
Judging The Offender
When hurt by the actions of others we quickly label them “wrong”, “bad”, or “evil”. Judgment breeds resentment which is a form of attachment that keeps us attached to the pain.
Attachment To Our Views
Perception shapes reality, the ability to detach yourself from your views and try to see the situation from another perspective sets you free.
But remember you must take off your shoes to walk in someone else’s so detach yourself from your perception of “good or evil” and “right or wrong”.
To forgive is to let go completely, and we can’t do that until we acknowledge the hurt, understand why we feel the way we do, and try to view the situation differently. This is why forgiveness is so difficult.
