Month: July 2026

HOW MIGHT IT FEEL TO LOOK AT SOMEONE WHO HAS HURT YOU?

Here’s one way of thinking about forgiveness –the question that arises commonly from the hurtful ones is: how might it feel to look at someone who has hurt you so painfully and would not feel antagonistic? Is this really possible? It is possible, because Scripture proves Christ right.

From the world’s viewpoint, you would be right to be angry, and not tempted to act or feel heavy towards the offender. On the contrary, the Lord through the Scripture tells us to forgive without strings attached. It doesn’t matter how big, how sorrowful, or how mountainous the hurt is.

It all comes down to letting it “GO,” says the Lord. “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” [Mark 11:25, ESV]

Naturally, from our human instinct, we hold pieces of the scraps that still draw us back into the reminiscence of the past. Some counsellors may tell you to “forgive” but also accentuate that forgiveness does not require immediate reconciliation with the wrongdoer. Oh well, think about Mark 11:25 again.

 Notwithstanding the fact, Scripture tells us to forgive completely. So which report are you going to adhere to? The Lord God, or the many voices in your head? Stick to Scripture because, as a Christian, it is not a choice to hold back any scraps. 

While we should rebuild trust and safe boundaries in the case of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and there are many, many of them, but just a couple to mention, we should not forget that the Lord Jesus went on the Cross to die for all our offences so that we will be saved and welcomed into the Kingdom of his Father.

Saved in this text here also means salvation for us, which includes total forgiveness for the sins of our hurts to others that are forgiven by Christ.

Can you take solace from the story of Joseph without me taking you afar? Have you ever been hurt more than Joseph in your life? Do you remember the story of Joseph in the hands of his own brothers, into slavery – and his journey to Egypt?

If you’re severely hurt by anyone whatsoever, this piece of message gives you the time to sit back, reflect and revisit the scripture to study the story of Joseph. Maybe Joseph is talking to you today if you already know Joseph’s predicament before he became the second most powerful man in the palace of Egypt and the entire nation.

What God can do beyond the hurt. The crowning of Joseph by Pharaoh in the land of Egypt shows us God’s purpose for mankind. “You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” [Genesis 40:41, ESV]. God uses our suffering and weaknesses to refine us and position us. Are you going to let that hurt go?

Joseph’s brothers attempted to murder him by casting him into a pit, sold him into slavery to the Ishmaelites, and ended up in prison in Egypt for more than a decade, but eventually found favour from the Lord. His agony turned into triumph ultimately.

Joseph forgave his brothers upon meeting them, and Joseph’s forgiveness statement is one of the most honest and chilling forgiveness messages recorded in the Bible. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” [Genesis 50:20, ESV]

So, if you think you cannot forgive for the reason that you’ve been hurt so painfully by a colleague, a sibling(s) of yours, and therefore there is no way you can let it “GO,” remember Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross for you too.  Secondly, keep in mind Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery.

The Lord’s faithfulness is with all of his followers at every moment of their suffering and weakness. If you will allow him, he will take on your hurt just as he did for Joseph.  This shows us that no matter our circumstances, God is with us faithfully.

You are your own enemy if you resist extending the olive branch for forgiveness, if you allow unnecessary pride to fill your heart, resisting to forgive one another. 

Whether Joseph was in a pit, a prison, or a palace, God’s presence never left him.

 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” [Romans 8:28, ESV]

Do not get me wrong; it is extremely difficult for many to shake hands, but count it a blessing if you let it “GO” since Christ Jesus tells us to forgive one another and the Scripture buttresses Christ’s statement.

If you love God, you will forgive. We should remember that those who love God are called by him. Are you called by the Lord? Do you want to be? If you are struggling, ask for help from the Holy Spirit and leave it to the Lord to settle the scores.

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” [Romans 12:19, ESV]   

We are told several times that as Christians we should overcome the devil with good and not take revenge, but leave it for God’s judgment. Are you? I would. Trust the Lord; keep the Faith and keep Hope alive.

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“For a Christian, forgiving someone who has caused grievous harm is a profound act of obedience that centers on releasing the offender from the liability they owe, rather than seeking revenge.“

FORGIVENESS DOES NOT MEAN HURT IS DISMISSIVE AND ADMISSIBLE

So here is the obsession: A lot of people will say – it’s not easy. Yes, we understand, but our lives are full of associations and family relations that consist of many people with the potential to hurt us in many ways. As Christians, we must be aware of this circumstance because we do not live on our little islands.

We’ve all been hurt by others in countless ways, and in varying degrees. Some of us have been so scarred by what others have done to us that we think no one can ever understand our pain.

But the Lord is present with you – he is the Omnipresence and Omniscience – he knows it all; leave it with him; stay with him, and he will fight for you – he is the Omnipotence. “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be SILENT.” [Exodus 14:14, ESV]. SILENT in this write-up and context means – forgiveness – let it go.

Others have been so deeply wounded that we can’t even think about what happened without feeling sick to our stomach. It could be anyone outside, within a family, a friend or colleague at work or a member in an organization, a club, or in church you share common goals and faith with. But the Lord says, be silent and let it go.

So, “letting it go” will require fervent prayers to break the unforgiven spirit taking residence. If we brush these hurts aside without prayers, thinking, “I am not a vindictive or overly sensitive person; these things shouldn’t bother me.” No, they do.

They do bother us, because our egos are like magnets. And resentments are attracted to egos; they can’t let it go. We still hang on to the feelings of hurt. But save yourself peace of mind; be obedient to God, and let that hurt go as you continue to pray and fast.

The consequences of failing to forgive or letting it go.

(1) Eventually, it begins to impact you in many ways as you hold onto these lingering feelings. It could be feelings of anger inside of us and sometimes generates bitterness that we perceive as unfairness if we look at it from different angles. We tend to ask why such unfairness happens to good people, or ourselves. Let it go by performing the rituals of forgiveness as Christ stated.

(2) As a Christian, the mind then becomes the battleground at this moment. Do I fight back or prove to others I am offended and hurt? So, ask yourself then, does it warrant doing any of the above? In these circumstances, we should revisit our Bibles and check what the Bible teaches us about forgiveness. Don’t let your mind become a battleground.

So, this is one of the few scriptures Jesus Christ encouraged us to soak into our spirit when we face this kind of indignation. In Matthew 18:21, Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” [Matthew 18:21-22, ESV]

As a Christian, if you cannot approach the hurt with true forgiveness to understand what forgiveness is, you cannot in any way forgive the other person or the group. It cannot be just lip service but by a profound Christian ethos; otherwise, you cannot be sincere in your forgiveness.

In fact, the scripture teaches us that forgiveness is a command; it is not a mere option. It is the only choice for a Christian to show their spiritual maturity. In playing hardball, ask a question or consider how many times our Father in Heaven has forgiven us in our lifetime? Do you know? No. So is it worth it to harden your heart from one or two hurts others have meted out to you?

The Lord God sent his only Son to this world to die for me, and you, for our evil sins that our sins past, present and future are forgiven. Amazing! And so you think someone has stepped on your toes and you are hurt so much that you cannot forgive that person; you cannot forgive that family member of yours; you cannot forgive that sibling of yours; and you cannot forgive that Church member of yours who’s part of the body of Christ, etc?

FORGIVENESS: Beloved, always remember that God has forgiven us more than we have forgiven others. “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” [1 John 4:10, ESV] Remember God’s endless love and forgiveness for you.

You should always put yourself in the honour of the position you are in as a Christ Ambassador, and act as such. If the person who hurt you does not apologize, you can still forgive them. When you do that, you are trusting the Lord with your faith in releasing the burden of the bitterness in you to God, and the Lord will act on your behalf. Let us take a cue from Colossians 3:13. It simply advises us to mirror the Lord’s forgiveness as the Lord did for us.

“In fact, forgiveness is about liberating yourself from an unforgiving spirit and bitterness so that the Lord God can heal your wounds.” If you still have someone you have not yet forgiven, gather the courage of faith and peace to consent to this piece, which will encourage you to let it go immediately. May you keep the Faith and Hope alive.

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What Do You Do When GOD Seems So Distant?

It is so easy to question yourself: why does the Lord God seem so far away from you when everything in your life seems to be spiralling? This is a moment of anxiety, and you are not alone. As a reminder, the good news is that the Lord has an antidote to your anxiety, and the key to overcoming it is fervent, passionate and unwavering faithful prayer.

Take a moment to reflect on Psalm 13. David, in his agony, felt God seemed so distant from him. He cries out to the Lord: “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.” [Psalm 13:1-3, ESV]

David expresses his heart to God in prayer. He felt lonely and forgotten, filled with sadness at all hours of the day. God listened, and indeed he recovered from his anxiety. So remember that no matter what anxious moments you are facing, prayer is the answer.

Like David, anxious moments are not ordinary times, and it is not ordinary to feel as if you have failed or the Lord has deserted you. Your thoughts may rather turn into emotions and into a never-ending story. In this circumstance, every ill-thought may be feeding every next thought without stopping, because the devil loves it and will want to make sure it never ends but grows bigger and larger. Beloved, are you in these anxious moments right now, or are you an overcomer through Christ’s antidote?

These moments are seasons of spiritual dryness. Nevertheless, your prayer and plea should always be in gratitude from the start and end of your prayer. The key to offering your gratitude to the Lord is that the central point of your struggles or predicaments shifts your perspective, strengthens your trust in the Lord God’s past faithfulness and present care for your life – the Lord takes notice.

So if you are going through a dry season in life momentarily, and you think God seems so distant from you, the book of Philippians has this to tell you: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” [Philippians 4:6, ESV]

But there’s always an answer from the Lord to these negative thoughts if you can turn to him with confidence, trusting him with faith and hope. As a Christian, spiritual dry seasons, also known as spiritual wilderness, are a developmental aspect of spiritual growth. They are often part of God’s design to deepen your faith, moving you from relying on emotional feelings to building an unwavering, trusting relationship with Him.

Beloved, God’s promises remain unchanged, so don’t dwell on your feelings because they can be deceptive. The Lord is often doing quiet work in your life that you cannot instantly perceive – it may seem that he is too distant, but he is not. So do not say, “What shall I eat?” or “What shall I drink?” or “What shall I wear?” It’s a season, and you can’t change the times and length of the period; it shall pass.

Here is another simple, naive analogy for waiting on God using the principle of a phone call. In this era of communication through business transactions, placing a phone call to an office receptionist is not just a straightforward procedure.

Depending on where the call is placed, it could be answered instantly, placed in a queue, or go to voicemail. In this circumstance, you can do three things – wait in line/queue, drop the call, or leave a message and wait for someone to call you back, right?

So if no one calls back, what do you do? Naturally, the obvious thing you will do is to call back until you get through to someone or the front desk. As you may be familiar, the result of having your need met by that call may not be an instant – that would not necessarily mean it is the end of the call. Many a time it takes multiple calls before someone calls back. Do you give up? No.

So what do you do when you feel God is no longer as close as he used to be? At worst or best, I say minimize the anxiety, stay focused, and call back to the Lord; don’t drop the call.

Similar to the phone call analogy, as a Christian, our communication tool for drawing God’s attention to us is to dial back in to prayer non-stop.

Never quit praying; your prayers will bring the Lord from far away closer to you, but until you minimize the anxiety, you cannot focus on any positive communication with the Lord through prayer.

Many sincere believers experience seasons when prayer feels empty, when Scripture feels quiet, and when God seems strangely absent. For some Christians especially, those seasons can cause confusion, discouragement, and even shamefulness.

This is the period the devil has crawled between you and the Lord God. Nevertheless, you still have hope in the Lord Jesus to count on.

Thus, let us take comfort in the Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:11-13, trusting the Lord with faith and hope. He encourages every believer that “through Christ’s strength, he learned to remain satisfied, peaceful, and steadfast in every situation—whether facing seasons of deep poverty and hunger or periods of great abundance.”

Note that in all of these, the Lord never seemed so far away from Paul; the Lord was close because of his faith and hope in the Lord.

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” [Philippians 4:11-13, ESV].

The verse above is very encouraging, and therefore we should consider taking a lesson from it. In every circumstance, our prayers should be direct and aligned with God’s faithfulness and his promises for a close relationship with him.

If we have a close relationship with the Father, how can he be so far away from us? No, he won’t. So, like Paul, we have to learn in every situation how to build our faith so that we don’t often feel like we have lost who we are before the Lord. God is never at a distance from us.

When we are stuck in the midst of the worries of everyday life and are continuously striving to make ends meet, we should not forget about our close relationship with the Lord.

Our life as Christians becomes a sequence of tasks for us to complete, and so if dissatisfaction sneaks in easily and unnoticed, the devil will make us doubt our faith in the Lord. So it is very important to put guardrails on so that worries do not drown out the faith we have in the Lord.

We know that we have every spiritual blessing, eternal life, and the Lord’s promise of his constant presence. So instead of living in fear of whether the Lord is distant from us or his promises are not being fulfilled in our lives, we can rest in the knowledge that beside him, he provides for us with everything we need, including the strength to bear difficult circumstances. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heaven.” [Ephesians 1:3, ESV]. That is anxiety-free.

That does not mean we are invincible or immune to pain, so when we face situations that lead us to doubt and wonder why the Lord is or seems so distant or far away from us, let us be reminded to respond in faith.

Let us have the trust and confidence that the Lord is not far from us because he has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in Him. Never give up, minimize anxiety, stay focused, and keep faith and hope alive.

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