The Oxford dictionary defines forgiveness as stopping being angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw, or mistake. 

Jesus emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, both from others and from ourselves. He teaches that just as God forgives us, we must also forgive others, even if they have wronged us repeatedly. Forgiveness is linked to our relationship with God, as we will be forgiven by Him if we also forgive others. 

But how difficult is it to forgive? It’s not easy, isn’t it?

How can we forgive someone who repeatedly wronged us in many ways than one?

And what does art have  to do with it? 

The God’s word tells us that God will not put it in an artist’s heart to make things that will lead others astray (Mark 9:42). The Spirit of God will not lead a person to create art that contradicts His nature.

• Therefore, anything that calls itself art and yet leads others astray (think about those half-naked models on social media, pornography – disguising as art), those who use their skill (and bodies) to pervert God’s glory, not honor it, tells us that these works of art are idolatry. But, this right here is worth another post. 

Therefore, if we are to talk about the art of forgiving, God will not put in our hearts reasons and feelings that will make us and others astray. God will not lead us to doing things that contradict His nature. 

I’ve been blessed that in spite of the many highs and lows of my life, God allowed me (each time) to grow and see things in a different light. Yes, I’ve been hurt. Yes, there are many a time that my emotions got the best of me. 

But, lately, I learned to look at people and situations with different eyes. I understand now why people do what they do. I see now what makes them do the things they do. You might be asking, are you now saying that the wrongs done to you are acceptable? 

Ah, no, but I can look at it now with better understanding and acceptance, and it gives me peace. I can’t make them change, but I can change myself, and it’s what God expects me to do. God will take care of those that I cannot help.

Your pain is seen and valid. God sees it, and it’s okay to still feel that pain.

But…

Perhaps, if we all look at forgiveness like an art and remind ourselves that any thoughts and feelings that we have that are leading us astray, distant, and angry towards that of others, are not of God’s. Maybe then, forgiving is not far ahead. 

And so is your healing and peace. 

“Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.” 1 Corinthians 6:12

Until next time,