Well, hey, welcome back to the weekday podcast. I'm Bobby and I want to encourage those of you that feel like you've forgiven someone, but the pain, it just keeps coming back. And so I want to talk about that today. Maybe you've been in that situation where you forgave them, you prayed for them, and then one night the memory hit you like a wave. The sting was just as sharp as it was the first time and you thought, wait, I thought, I've dealt with this. Well, if you've ever found yourself where when that hurt comes back over and over again, you're not alone. Here's the truth that most people don't ever say out loud. Forgiveness is often a process. It's not a one time event. Let me say that again. Forgiveness is often a process. It's not a one time event. And Jesus actually knew this. I think that's why when Peter asked, well, how many times should I forgive? Jesus didn't say, well, once and done. He said in Matthew 18:22, not seven times, but 70 times seven. And if you're doing the math on it, it's 490. But I don't think Jesus was actually giving Peter a math problem. He was giving him a mindset.
Forgiveness is less like flipping a switch and it's more like lifting weights. You don't get strong from just one rep, but you build strength by showing up again and again and again and again. So what do you do when the hurt resurfaces? What do you do when it comes crashing back into your life? Number one, recognize the pain does not erase your progress. It doesn't. Just because you feel the sting again doesn't mean you haven't forgiven. Feeling the pain again doesn't mean you're failing. It actually means that you're human. Congratulations. Welcome to Planet Earth. Because healing comes in layers. It's like peeling an onion in each layer may bring tears, but also brings you closer to the core. So recognize the pain. Number two. Forgive again. And do it on purpose. When that memory returns, don't rehearse the offense. Instead reaffirm your decision. Say again, God, I choose to forgive you. Help me to release it again today. And even if you said it yesterday, even if you said it last year, say it again. Because forgiveness is actually faith in motion. So I want to give you something really practical. You can do, Pastor Chuck and I like to throw out different ideas. This one maybe you've never done before. But I want to encourage you to actually keep a forgiveness journal so every time the pain resurfaces, write what happened, describe how it made you feel, and then write a sentence like this. I choose to forgive again and again today. Like, just try that. Just give that a try for a month. And over time, I believe that act becomes less about the person and more about the freedom that you're walking into. Or maybe here's a different practice that may hit you differently. Pray a blessing over the person who hurt you. Now, I'm telling you, that might feel weird or it might feel forced at first, and that's okay. But when you ask God to heal them, actually something starts healing inside of you. I just want to reaffirm. You're not broken because it hurts again. You're actually being refined. And every single time you choose forgiveness again, you're cooperating with the Holy Spirit. You are rewiring your heart for grace. And so today, I just want to encourage you. You can do it again. God, heavenly Father, would you take these words and drop them into our hearts? And God, would you help when pain still finds us? Help us not to grow weary and the repetition remind us that you are with us in the process of forgiveness. Father, would you help us to walk in freedom that forgiveness brings? And it's in Jesus name I pray. Amen. Amen. Have a great day. We'll see you back here soon.
