We as people, often times struggle with forgiveness.  We hold on to resentment, anger, and hurt, that does damage to our physical bodies as well as our spiritual selves.  It may be that we are unwilling to forgive, thinking that we will then be letting the other person or persons off of the hook.  Or that they didn’t ask for it , nor do they deserve it. 

     Forgiveness, is not easy.  Though it may be helpful to the person in need of forgiveness, to be forgiven, it is more about us not carrying around all that angst within.  By not forgiving, we are only hurting and stunting our selves, not allowing ourselves to move forward in health.

     In the New Testament the word used carries with it the meaning, “to release”.  It is all about letting go and setting it aside.  Our best example of this forgiveness is found in Jesus.  Jesus who gave himself for our sin, who even while hanging on the cross said, “Father, forgive them, for they know no what they do.”  Jesus forgave and let it go.  God forgives and releases us of the penalty and punishment.  The scripture tells us as believers to forgive, Ephesians 4:31-32 says,

Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you. (NRSV)

     Asking for forgiveness when we have wronged someone, or forgiving someone who has wronged us, moves us forward in our journey with God.  It frees us to follow Christ more closely and to become more like him.  It keeps us from being stuck in unhealthy patterns, and it allows us to build real, honest, and open relationships with others.  God encourages us to ask for forgiveness and to forgive, yet the decision to do just that remains ours.  If the Spirit, is prompting you to forgive another, or to ask forgiveness, take the step and let it go.  See what God will do with it, in your life and theirs.

    Have you ever been in a wrestling match with God?  Think of the times when he has asked you to do something for him and within yourself begins a struggle to obey or not.  All of us have been in that situation.  Or how about the times when you believe God is calling you to a particular action and you give up on it before you truly have an answer.  This too, is common to us all. 

     What does it look like for us to struggle with God?  How is it that we are to hang in there waiting and striving as we journey with him? What is the outcome of the match?

     We have examples of wrestling with God in Scripture, that can give us insights for us to consider as we grapple with God.  In Genesis 32:24-31 we read,

Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.  When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.  Then he said, “let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “what is your name?” And he said , “Jacob.”  Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.”  The Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him.  So Jacob called the place Peniel ,saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved. (NRSV)

     We are not told what question or occasion brought on this wrestling match, but Jacob did not quit early or give up, he persevered.  As Jacob hung in there with God, God gave him his blessing.  What ever the struggle was about, Jacob learned what it was he was to do.  And in the process God gave him to very tangible reminders of their time together.  God gave him a new name which empowered him of his mission, and he was left with a physical reminder, a limp.  The name change and the limp were not only for him to remember, but also for those whom he would lead.

     In the Passion of Christ we see another example of a struggle, in Mark 14: 32-36,

They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”  He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated.  And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” And going a little farther, he through himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. (NRSV)

     Jesus had a deep connection with the Father, and yet in his humanness there was a struggle.  He wanted there to be another way if possible.  He prayed and wrestled with God.  The outcome was obedience. Obedience to the point of death.

     Both Jesus and Jacob had faith and relationship with the father.  It was because of this strong connection and faith, that they were able to strive with God.  What we can learn from this is that it is ok, to be real before God. It is ok, to struggle, and question,  in the end we can yet come to the place of blessing and obedience.

     How is it that you have wrestled with God?  Did you persevere to the end of the match?  What was the outcome?

Picture: Sumo Wrestling , by The Other View

      Lately, I seem to be surrounded by brokenness and pain.  I hear peoples stories, sometimes of things quite painful and unimaginable.  sometimes this pain and suffering is brought on by our choices or the choices of others.  Often times it is a bi-product a fallen world.

    All of us experience pain and suffering.  To express it so simply, and matter of fact, does not minimize what that can mean for us as individuals when we are going through it.  we become disoriented and we want it to end.  We question, we blame,and we cry out to God for relief.  There seems to be no answer and no end, as we move in and through the pain.

    In many ways the way we deal with pain and hurt is common to all.  But it is still uniquely my pain, your pain, or their pain.  Depending upon its severity, or its relation to other events, it can be devastating.  As people of faith, we try to justify the situation by saying, “God must have a plan” or “there is something that I am to learn.”  But at times those answers do not satisfy.  Sometimes we may come to the conclusion that there is no answer and we just cast ourselves before God and his sovereignty, his steadfast love, and grace.

     In the Psalms, we see the gamut of emotion.  As people give honor, praise and thanksgiving to God.  But a majority of the Psalms are a lament.  There is pain, hurt, disorientation, and no shalom.  The children of Israel show us a way of being open and honest before God even in the pain.  They show us a faith and a hope that God will make it all right, even if its not as we might expect.

     In these Psalms, the Children of Israel address God.  They bring their hurts, worries and pains to him, because they believe that he is the one who can bring things back to Shalom.   To that place of wholeness that they once had.  As they are speaking to God, they express deeply and fully what is going on but they do not presume to tell God how to fix it.  They just know that he can and they have the hope that he will.  In fact, in the lament is included a praise for what God will do.  Somewhere in the process of crying out in their pain, or in their crisis, they come to the place where they trust and praise God.  They put their hope in him.

     Ultimately, as we move through our pain we too end up with our hope in him.  In the beginning we are not always at that place, but God does get us there.

     How does God bring you through it?  What has your experience been?

Picture: Hope and Pain, by kwerfeldein