She’d struggled with forgiveness on and off for years. We went over and over God’s principles regarding forgiveness (it’s a commandment, 70 x 7, God forgave you, it’s not necessarily trusting, etc.), but a week, a month, or even a year later, I’d get another call. 

“I just can’t forgive them. I am offended. I can’t work with them anymore,” she’d say. “You know how they did this a year ago, and it’s happened again!” Her list went on and on. She knew all the right verses in her mind, and I knew she wanted to completely forgive, but her heart wasn’t going for it. My friend and fellow worker, who I was supposed to be counseling, was stuck and so was I. Once again, our prayer went up. “Lord, help!”

“I have to tell you what happened,” she said. Her call came just weeks after that last prayer. “I was on the beach with my male cousin and a man came up to us. He wanted help with something and as we helped, he talked. He told us he was a believer from a different part of our country. He kept discussing faith, and after a while I started to think of other things. Then, I heard the word forgiveness. I started focusing on the conversation and the man looked directly at me and commented, ‘God said this to tell them we must always keep forgiving our brothers and sisters.’” 

“Abruptly,” she said, “he turned and walked away.”

My friend was convicted. God’s direct encouragement strengthened her so she could engage in the conversations which led to true forgiveness.  

What a God we have! God didn’t disown my friend when she wasn’t able to completely obey. In His grace, He instead sent a man (or possibly an angel), to help my dear sister out of the prison of unforgiveness. He brought His word to life to give her the push she needed to enter into healing discussions with her co-workers. 

Abundant grace. We never deserve it, but His cup of grace never runs dry.