A Tender Heart By Sabrina Santiago

Hurt. 

Many of us have been hurt by something or someone, just like many of us have made mistakes that we aren’t necessarily proud of. 

But what if I told you that there’s a God who forgives you of all things no matter what? Amazing grace, what wonderful news! 

But what if I also told you that your repentance isn’t complete without forgiveness? So just what do I mean by that? 

Well first off, hurt is not pleasing. 

Trust me, I understand completely; but let me ask, how do you handle that hurt? 

Do you bottle it up deep inside until you hold anger, bitterness, hatred, and resentment towards that person? Do you cling to your un-forgiveness, refusing to let go? 

Or do you immediately take it to God in prayer, letting him know that you are hurt and you need him to fix it? 

We have to be very careful of our hearts and guard against things that can harden them. A hardened heart is a scary thing to have because if we allow our hearts to become hardened, we allow ourselves to become numb. If we are numb it becomes very challenging to be used by God. We are all humans, and so we are all flesh. 

I get that, but why let all of that hinder us from moving forward in God?

Why allow all of that to keep us from doing His will and living fully in our purpose? 

Why do we become numb and by doing so let the enemy win? 

The enemy has come to destroy and when  we harden our hearts and don’t forgive, we let Satan win. Satan wants un-forgiveness and he wants disunity amongst one another. 

We are not perfect by any means, we all have fallen short from the glory of God, but I’m so thankful for a God who never leaves us nor forsakes us. 

Just like He loves and forgives us unconditionally, we have to love and forgive others always. 

The Bible says in Matthew 6:14-15 

 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  

This scripture is so self explanatory. 

If you forgive man, God will forgive you; 

if you do not forgive man

(those who have hurt you), God will not forgive you. It’s clear, it’s direct, and it’s his word. 

Our loving God forgives us of our mistakes, our past, and our imperfect ways, and because of this we should do the same for others. 

Forgiving is not necessarily forgetting. 

We will still always remember what caused such hurt, however the difference is we will now remember it without anger. 

Forgiving is not only verbally speaking it either. We can say we forgive somebody but chances are deep down inside we still harbor something in our hearts toward them. 

True forgiveness is the release you feel in your heart from all hurt and anger. 

It’s replaced with a tenderness, a love, a peace of mind, a purity, and a joyful heart that only our merciful God can give us.

Without forgiveness, our repentance unto God in anything is not complete. 

Without forgiveness, we cannot make it into heaven. 

Do not let that be a hindrance in your life.

God’s Love covers all. It is so much greater than anything in this world.  

Nothing compares. It’s indescribable, it’s unexplainable, it’s overwhelming. 

It’s so amazing. 

We serve such an amazing God, guys.

He loves us unconditionally. No matter how many times we fail at life, He is always there. He’ll never leave us nor forsake us. We are never too far away from God. Never. He has such great plans for each of our lives! But we have to allow God to work in us, to soften us. 

To forgive when it’s not deserved. 

That’s what He does for us. 

Encouragement: 

I know we have busy schedules during the week and it’s hard to find time in the day, but I strongly encourage you all, if this personally spoke to you in any way or you truly feel God urging you in the spirit, find some alone time today to pray and meditate on God’s word. 

If it’s in your car, the shower, your closet, the bathroom at work, whatever. 

Do not set a timer for yourself. 

Fully focus on him and let him take over you in the spirit. He loves you so much and he wants you to talk to him about anything and everything. 

What a powerful God we serve.

Let’s come to God with a true, forgiving and repented heart!