So really--have you ever felt like smacking someone? Don't worry, I won't judge.
I've felt that way plenty of times in the past. Correction--my flesh (also known as the soul: my mind, my will, and my emotions) wanted to "reach out and touch someone" in a non-loving fashion. The wonderful thing is, it isn't a sin to have a rush of emotion well up inside. The sin comes when we act upon the anger and irritation.
Thank God I am not just made up of my brain; I have a spirit and a body (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12). Choosing to listen to the Holy Spirit and forgive instead of spewing out my displeasure isn't always easy--but it's end is so much better!
Please understand that this is different than "stuffing" emotions. When we stuff things instead of letting them out, we end up boiling over at some point...and it's never pretty. Forgiving someone is God's way of dealing with the feelings we have that doesn't cause harm to others--it actually benefits them.
Forgiving doesn't mean we'll never have to talk about issues or problems with others, but we do need to forgive them first, so we can approach it from the standpoint of the love of God.
With that said--enjoy your strife-free weekend!
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. Proverbs 10:12
Since you're not going to judge, I have to confess I've done more than just want to smack people in my life. One of my many weaknesses is to be prone to violence. I grew up in a tough area and fighting was part of life. I've come to learn since that time that violence is the manifestation of the root of all negative emotions; Fear... Forgiveness takes much more bravery and honesty. God causes many of those insecurities to fade away, it feels pretty good to be able to shrug things off understanding the emotions of others due to the wisdom from God. Great post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect example of God's ability to alter a life! Thanks for sharing, and I'm betting others have and will receive encouragement from your testimony.
ReplyDeleteI've never been one to be physically violent, but I have definitely been prone to outbursts of wrath of a verbal/emotional nature. God has really helped me to overcome that stuff. Not that I never ever have any outbursts anymore, but it's not like it used to be!