Forgiving The Harm Others Have Done To Us

In Step 8 we make a list of all persons we have harmed and become willing to make amends to them.  To make a list we need to look at our past behaviour and let the harm we did to the persons come to mind.  Often we will find that meeting the demands of our dependency was the root cause of the harm we inflicted on others.

Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. (Romans 13:8 MSG)

Please forgive the wrongdoing of this people out of the extravagance of your loyal love just as all along, from the time they left Egypt, you have been forgiving this people. (Numbers 14:19 MSG)

Whatever the cause of why we harmed others, we need to deal with our amends in a way that seeks to restore the relationship between those persons and ourselves. In Step 7, we humbly asked God to remove all our shortcomings and we should be mindful that others also have shortcomings.  Forgiving any harm others have caused us is a basic step to becoming willing to make amends.  God’s unfailing love will strengthen and stabilize us as we seek to put things right between ourselves and another person.

I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind. (Luke 6:35-36 MSG)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, As I seek to make amends for the harm I have caused others, please help me to be like You – extravagant in my love.  Amen

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