Remembering What Fills Me With Hope
As we seek through prayer and meditation to get to know God better through the scriptures, we frequently find that we also get to know ourselves better. We often discover the decisions we made which took us down the slippery path into addiction were based on bitterness over past issues and pride of self. We were hurt by someone and resolved not to be subjected to trauma by anyone ever again. We hardened our hearts against people and rebelled against God. We became self-focused on making our own way in life and doing whatever brought us pleasure, but the pleasure we sought did not last.
Just thinking of my troubles and my lonely wandering makes me miserable. That’s all I ever think about, and I am depressed. Then I remember something that fills me with hope. The Lord's kindness never fails. If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. (Lamentations 3:19-22 CEV)
Being unwilling to forgive the hurt that traumatized us in the past has the impact of preserving it. Would we keep touching a hot iron knowing we will be scarred by it for life? Of course not! Why then are we reluctant to let go of something that is so damaging to us and our recovery? God will take away those shortcomings we bring to Him, but whatever we refuse to expose and forgive will diminish our hope of full restoration.
The Lord is good to those who put their hope in him. He is good to those who look to him. Everything written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us strength to go on. They encourage us and give us hope. (Lamentations 3:25; Romans 15:4 NIRV)
God desires that we know His will for us and have the Power to carry it out. We hinder the work of God when we pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us,” and then refuse to forgive. Let’s choose to forgive those who have harmed us and have the blessed assurance that God has forgiven us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I do not want to hinder Your work of restoration in me. Please give me the will and desire to forgive those who have harmed me so that Your will may be done in my life. I desire to be perfect and complete in You, lacking nothing. Amen
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