Someone has wrongfully hurt many of us at one time in our lives. It doesn't have to be someone that you are romantically involved with. It could have been a best friend, a co-worker or even a close family member. Either way hurt is hurt. I know for me I become very resentful almost to the point of being revengeful. I had a situation that happened to me recently where I lost my job. It was the way how I lost my job that bothered me. There were incidents that were suspicious that led up to my termination. When it happened I went through an array of emotions. I went from sadness to anger, to relief to extreme fear. There were days that I felt the shame of it as well. I would picture my accusers just laughing at me and being satisfied that they had accomplished their task in getting rid of me. I was mad at them!

I wanted to get even with every one of them! Then it dawned on me how much we (as a race of people) hurt God. We hurt God by our un-beliefs. We hurt him by living our lives as if He didn't exist at all. The truth is God has every right in the world to get even with us all. Then I realized just how tough it is to love people. The conclusion is that people will let you down. In today's world we are handed sports heroes, movie stars, rock and roll celebrities and politicians. We are encouraged to invest our hopes, dreams and emotions into them. When they let us down we are hurt, discouraged and disappointed. As I searched for my feelings through this prospective I was beginning to understand that we live in an un-perfect world. People will do what people will do.

I shouldn't be disappointed when people are mean to me. I shouldn't be upset when a person has done me wrong. Your probably saying to yourself "Am I totally supposed be an door mat for people to kick around at their convenience?" Of course not! If you can understand where the source of human behavior comes from it will make it that much easier to understand. I will tell you this that I am still blown away by some of the wrong doings that were done to me but I thank the Lord Jesus for giving me an understanding beyond human comprehension to deal with this issue. When I forgive those who have hurt me it will instantly release me from the connection to it. When I hang on to it, it will bring on feelings of resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness that will slowly eat away at my peace. Quick story, I had a situation where my sister-in-law had gone through a tough divorce where me and my wife were involved.

I was very upset with her that she had ended her marriage. For years I harbored anger and resentment towards her. I would forbid her sister, my wife, to have any relationship with her. At family gatherings I would purposely ignore her and her new husband. I was hurt by what she did and I wanted her to know it. Yes I was a born again, fired up Christian at the time! It was then that the Holy Spirit brought it to my attention that God had every right to be upset with me. "Why?" I asked. Before I became a Christian God loved me when I wasn't so Christian. God loved me enough to love me while I was a sinner and my life was a mess. Even when I think of that I get choked up because that is awesome when you think about it. Now as a Christian I was to demonstrate that same kind of love to others.

Every person was worthy of that kind of unconditional love. Not a love that excuses you from the responsibilities and consequences of your actions but a love that says 'I love you right where you are'. God challenged me to why wasn't I displaying that same kind of love to my sister-in-law? I had no logical reason other than she hurt me. Then I realized that I had hurt God by the choices I have made too but he managed to forgive me. When I understood that, my hurt wasn't so important any more! It was then that I went to my sister-in-law and asked her to forgive me for my behavior. She tried to justify my actions but I wouldn't let her. We cried a few tears together and now our relationship is the best it's ever been. Jesus experienced the ultimate hurt on the cross.

If He can go through all that and still find room in his heart to forgive us then why can't we release the hurt when others hurt us? So I encourage you today if someone or something has hurt you and you have been living with it for years, I strongly encourage you to give that hurt to Jesus now! When you release it him you are free from carrying it forever! It does release the offenders from the responsibility of it. It just releases you from the damaging hurt of it. Article by Sgt. Roy

Article by Sgt. Roy Lewis