When Forgiveness Seems Too Hard

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25 (NKJV) She (we’ll call her Sarah) and her friend Maya have been close chums since elementary school. They were more like sisters than friends. Then Sarah finds out that Maya has ditched her for a new crowd. Sarah is hurt. Angry. And vows to spread nasty rumors about her “friend” to avenge the betrayal! Sarah’s inner voice—which is the way God sometimes speaks to us—tells her to open her Bible. Sarah searches the concordance at the back of the Bible for the word “forgive.” It takes her to Matthew 6:14, which says, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (NKJV) Sarah quickly looks up the word “trespass” on her laptop. The antiquated definition means “to wrong somebody.” She keeps reading, then raises her eyes. “So, unless I forgive Maya, God won’t forgive me, either. Besides, could there be some reason Maya is avoiding me?” Even the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:12 says, “And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. (NKJV)” “Sounds like God won’t forgive the unforgiver,” she accepts with a sigh. “But I’ll call Maya anyhow and chew her out first!” Just then her phone rings: “It’s me, Maya. How about lunch tomorrow? My Oklahoma cousins are in town, and they’re dying to meet you!” “Cousins? Uh—sure,” Sara agrees. After hanging up, tears cloud her eyes. “Thank you, Father God, for Maya’s call. I would have done a terrible thing without even giving my closest friend a chance to explain!” Gracious and loving Father God, thank You for Your goodness, forgiveness and grace through the Perfect Sacrifice, your precious Son, Jesus, in whose Name we pray. Amen. – Kiki BelMonte-Schaller   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