Is there anything more frustrating (and painful) than when someone hurts you, but never acknowledges the wrong, or worse, acts like it’s your fault? For example:
- Your husband admits he accesses pornography, but he can’t understand why you seem so upset about it.
- Your mom’s terrible choices deeply wounded you as a youth, but she’s oblivious, always referring to “your magical childhood,” re-writing the narrative through her own skewed perspective.
- Your dad abandons your mom for other woman and expects you to be best friends with her kids. He can’t understand why you’re not excited about having a “bonus family.”
- Or, as the Apostle Peter clearly struggled with, what about when someone just hurts you again and again and again. How many times do we have to forgive?
Here’s the thing: At first, Jesus’ commands about forgiveness feel unfair. They seem insane. Too much. There’s no way. But there’s a profound promise hidden beneath these seemingly impossible commands and if we will take Him at His Word, we’ll experience a FREEDOM that would never be possible if we only based our forgiveness on the other person’s worthiness or apology.
We don’t have to wait around for someone else to say they’re sorry. Or make it right. Or even understand what they’ve done wrong.
Jesus says, Your healing and freedom is dependent on NO ONE ELSE but Me.
Good news!
Join me here for Episode 14 as we contemplate the good news: Your freedom isn’t dependent on anyone else. Be free…
About the Kari Patterson Podcast: We need wisdom, y’all. Like, yesterday. Right?! We need God’s perspective. We need His heart. We need joy, resilience, clarity, and conviction. Feeling this need, author Kari Patterson opens Scripture and shares candidly how God’s Word informs her daily life. Appropriate for all ages, relatable and refreshing, join Kari for conversations on responding to unkindness, emotional freedom, parenting dilemmas, self-pity, forgiveness, and more. (Available most of the places you enjoy podcasts, including those with links above.)