Learning to Forgive

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) At 32 years-old, I was doing a study with two other men. The Bible based book we were studying was called Stop Using Your Past as an Excuse for the Way You Are. My mom had been to residential school. Her mothering skills, when I was younger, were almost non-existent. I desired to grow in my relationship with our God, and the Lord began pointing out my need to deal with my unforgiveness towards her. When we begin our walk with God, we are seeking to be at peace. However, my unforgiveness was a burden that I was willing to carry. As I grew in my relationship with Jesus, He called me to preach. He used me to lead others to Jesus, and He was answering my prayers. Over the years, though, each time I cried out to God to draw me closer, He reminded me to go seek forgiveness from my parents for my hatred towards them. The pain was real; the struggle was hard. It seems that the Lord deals with us one thing at a time. I still knew that the Lord had asked me to go to my parents and ask them to forgive me for hating them. My question was, “I was the one hurt, so why do ‘I’ need to ask for forgiveness?” Finally, I was pliable and said, “Okay, Lord.” First, I went to my dad. He cried and said, “It’s my fault.” Next, I went to my mom. She cried and said, “It’s all dad’s fault.” But after those visits, the yoke and my burden were lifted! I felt so much freer. My unforgiveness was no longer a burden. — Richard Knott   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org