5.26.18 Praise & Prayer Prompt: Disappointment & Forgiveness

PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• It’s so disappointing when people disappoint us.
The emotions range from anger, hurt, and a sense of betrayal.
But people will always disappoint… people will disappoint us and we’ve disappointed others (and will undoubtedly do so again).
One of the things I’ve done in the last couple of years is to try to shift my view point on disappointment.
It’s not easy but we have to remember that when others let us down, or they act out in a way that is hurtful to us, their actions aren’t about us.
Any sin that is rooted in hurtful action is a sin against God more than it is us.
So the disappointment we feel is shared by our Heavenly Father.
And since His love for us is beyond measure, I have to believe any disappointment or hurt He feels is far more significant than my own.
Psalm 51:4a says, “Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.”
This was written by King David after he confessed his sins of adultery with Bathsheba and arranged the death of her husband, Uriah.
The focus of repentance is to the One who he hurt and disappointed the most — God the Father.
Though shifting the view point of our disappointment in someone won’t remove the hurt, it does put our own feelings into perspective.
God’s feelings matter more.
Yet despite His own hurt over sin, He offers any repentant heart His perfect forgiveness.
And we’ve got to remember that since His grace is big enough to forgive us, we have to be willing to extend grace to others.
Ephesians 4:32 reminds us, “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Jesus painted the picture of forgiveness when Peter asked the question, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” (Matthew 18:21)
Jesus responded in verse 22, “No, not seven times, but seventy times seven!”
Verses 23-35 go on to describe the incredible important of forgiveness and grace.
Because even amid our own hurt and disappointment, God tells us to forgive as He has forgiven us.
And forgiveness means we start fresh.
We start new, and we let the past go.
After we repent and He forgives, God doesn’t use our sins against us.
So though it’s hard to do (and heaven knows I’m a long way from perfecting it myself), we have to let it go when it’s our turn to forgive those who disappoint us.
Today, as you pray, give praise to the One who forgives with absolute perfection.
And ask Him to help you remember His forgiving grace when it’s your turn to forgive.
Ask Him to help you keep your own hurt in perspective since ultimately, any sins against us are really against God.