“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Ephesians 6:12
In an effort to love one another, we sometimes damage each other instead. So eventually, at some point, someone will hurt you. Sometimes, it is unplanned but purposeful; and, sometimes it is completely accidental. Then there are times, when the pain is easily dismissed; and, there are other times when it is not, making forgiveness difficult. Whether or not we recover is the issue.
Sometimes we can almost see directly into the heart of the other person and because of their humility, forgiveness comes easily. And then, there are times when our love for the other person supersedes the pain we feel, and again, forgiveness comes easily.
Yet, more prevalent are those times when fierce defiance compels us to plant our feet in the ground, requiring that we stand firmly in the cement of unforgiveness. I don't know about you, but for me, forgiveness is one of the most difficult aspects of being a Christian. Sometimes I believe I can forgive someone for the pain they have caused, yet, I find I cannot bring myself to even utter the simple phrase, "Good Morning."
My good friend Elliott Lamour once said to me:
“You have to really understand Ephesians 6:12. When you understand this, you will understand that sometimes you will say something, and the other person will actually hear something completely different, causing complete confusion, bitterness, resentment, and war. The more you understand this, the easier it will be to forgive someone. Our struggle is not against people, it is against principalities.”
These words are true indeed. So, with this in mind, let’s make a conscious effort to work on forgiving each other, especially those people who we believe have purposefully damaged us. But, I can tell you from experience; it is much easier said, than done. -But, do it anyway. L.
Study Reference: Ephesians 6:10-13
From: "Damaged." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock
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