Trusting God and Forgiving Go Together
Day 6
by Gini Crawford, MSW
posted 12/21/2016, revised 5/19/2018
Trust God and His plan for your life, is the second principle we need to know to help us forgive others.
Let's look at the story of Joseph again in Genesis. How could Joseph ever forgive such an evil act of betrayal? His brothers' evil deed almost cost him his life, and made him a slave and then a prisoner for many years. What gave Joseph the strength to survive and even flourish in his ordeal and then forgive his brothers? It was Joseph's complete trust in God and His plans.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB®
We can all struggle with trusting God. Trusting in God at times is easier said than done, isn't it? This is because some things in our lives tend to be very hard to handle and understand. God is sovereign over everything, including what happens to us, so this makes us think and feel God's decisions are scary and hurtful. During these times we can doubt whether He really cares for us. A friend of mine had a teenage daughter die in a car accident. She struggled and still does concerning trusting God. I know God understands her struggle with trusting Him because He knows all things. I know He isn't thinking, "how dare she does not trust Me." God is patient and kind. We are more demanding towards people than God is. Remember, how much God loves us - Jesus died for us when we were His enemies (Ephesians 2:1-9). I guarantee if you will give God a chance, and get to know Him through His Word, then you will learn He is to be trusted.
God's plans for our lives are the best for us. Jeremiah 29:11 is one of those Bible verses I repeat to myself quite often, because as we all know, life isn't easy. And I need to remind myself that God is in loving control of my life, and wants my best, not calamity!
"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NASB®
How does trusting in God's plans fit into forgiving? When someone does something to you that you think is unforgivable, ask yourself, "Can I trust God and His plans for my life?" If you can trust God's plans for you, then realize whatever is hard for you to forgive is a part of God's plan for you. This person or offense you are struggling to forgive is a part of God working welfare and not calamity in your life. Yes I know sometimes things just feel like calamity. But truth is, God's plans for our lives are the plans that lead to our best future with real hope in it. I have been in politics for many years now, and many politicians promise hope, but it never seems to materialize. God's hope is the real thing. It is a certain hope that starts now for us and goes on for eternity (Colossians 1:27). Let your trust be in God's plans for you, so you can forgive as Joseph did.
Life Application
When we trust in God, it gives us great benefit for now and forever. On the flip side, when we don't trust in God, we end up trusting in something like ourselves, others, money, or a position. We need to remember that we were created to trust, so when we don't trust in God, we automatically trust in something else. Read Genesis 50:14-21; Proverbs 3:5-8; Jeremiah 17:5-8. Make a list of reasons why you should trust in God instead of someone or something. Write a sentence explaining why trusting in God will help you to forgive someone. If you are struggling with trusting God, ask Him to create a desire in you to trust Him.