In this day, we see unforgiveness on display throughout culture.

Often we see it in our own lives.

we extend forgiveness, even in the hardest of situations, it does not absolve the one who sinned against us from their actions, but it does show the glory, mercy, and grace of God.

It removes our place in a specific way and shows the very forgiveness God extends, for it is first and foremost against Him that all sin is committed, even the most heinous.

Yes, we do bear the weight and the consequences of others’ sin against us as others do ours, and we are called to go to those we hurt, not covering our sin, but asking for forgiveness as they are to do for us. 

But the reality we read in Psalm 51:4 is:

“Against You, You only (O LORD), have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight…”

And, as those redeemed by Christ, we are called to repent, turn from what we have done and what is at the core of our heart, and not return to it.

We are called to turn to the One whose forgiveness is life transforming.

Then we are called to go to the one we have hurt and, in humility not flippancy, ask for forgiveness.

But we are also called, on the other hand, to forgive, whether one comes to us or not.

Forgiveness does not remove grief.

Forgiveness does not remove hurt.

Forgiveness does not remove sadness.

Forgiveness does not remove memories (though the sting can lessen in the obedience of forgiveness, which is a gift of God).

But it does remove our “right” to make someone else pay.

It does remove our “right” to harbor and feed bitterness.

It does remove our “right” to churn in remembering what has been done.

Justice and forgiveness can go hand in hand.

But justice and unforgiveness is not the way of the Savior.

We leave justice in His hands when we forgive.

We leave payment for evil in His hands when we forgive.

We are able to pray for the one who hurt us when we forgive.

We are able to have peace and live in peace when we forgive.

We may come again to a place of anger and deep hurt when reminded or when we are again hurt in the same type of way, but we must immediately take it to the cross lest it become a bitter root and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to do just that.

“Righteous anger” is not actually righteous if it longs for the destruction of the other person.

“Righteous anger” hates the actions of another and is able to pray that the Lord will bring them to repentance – to truly understanding the depth of their guilt, bringing it before the cross of Christ, and being transformed by the power that raised Jesus from the dead.

When Joseph was sold into slavery, as we read in Genesis 37, 39-50, he could have grown bitter, but he stayed faithful to God knowing the LORD was with him.

He forgave.

No doubt, he wrestled with what had been done and what happened in the years following, but he set his heart and mind on what was true about the God he knew and Who he knew saw him, loved him.

When his brothers came, yes, it could be said he caused them distress, but he never did them wrong though he, in his position, could very well have brought them great destruction.

He set in motion actions intended to do them good not harm, but also to move their hearts to repentance.

And he wept.

For their loss and for his own.

But he positioned his heart and thinking to what he knew was true.

“God sent me ahead of you.” Genesis 45:4

And he repeated it.

Finishing at the end of it all, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” Genesis 50:20

In their jealousy and anger, they intended to do him hard.

In their deception and pride, they covered it up.

But God was with Joseph.

Over and over, we read that.

He had a purpose.

God sent Joseph ahead of them knowing famine was to come and He would use Joseph to rescue and provide for His people, for Joseph’s family and many more.

Joseph could have let a root of bitterness grow.

He didn’t.

He trusted God.

We get to see the result of jealousy and bitterness harbored in the hearts of the brothers.

It’s not pretty, but…

We also get to see the “rest of the story.”

We get to see the weeping of remembering what was done and what was lost.

 We get to see the beauty of grace and forgiveness.

We get a glimpse into the “why” of the original tragedy with Joseph and his brothers and God’s intent for it all.

We also get to see the ugliness of forgetting that grace and forgiveness as generations “did not remember Joseph” and the cycle began again. 

Jealousy and bitterness led to great harm, but the greater reality rolls through the generations.

God is with His people.

God is the God of grace and mercy.

God is the God of forgiveness.

We are able to remember the same.

We may not fully see this side of heaven the reason for tragedy and/or hardship or how God will use sin against us for His glory and our good.

But we know it is so.

And we must repeat it to our hearts when they are strong and when they feel faint.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:29

We know.

So, we stand.

We may stand with tears.

We may stand with a heart that constantly cries out to the LORD to give a renewed heart of forgiveness, over and over.

We may stand even with trembling hands and feet because we stand on WHO we know.

We stand because we “lean not on our own understanding” (or our own emotions), but “in all (our) ways, (we) acknowledge Him and HE will direct (our) heart” (Proverbs 3:5-6) and establish our ways.

He will give us a humility and steadfastness that enables us to say:

I am forgiven much; so I will forgive much.

I will call on the LORD to drown out the lies of bitterness with the truth of the Gospel and to the praise of the One who forgave me so much.

I will weep, but I will rest in the joy of the LORD.

I will “strengthen (my) feeble arms and weak knees.” And I will “’make level paths for (my) feet,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” Hebrews 12:12-13

For the glory of God and the hope of repentance and redemption for another.

Joseph’s brothers were brought to true sorrow and repentance in the face of Joseph’s forgiveness.

What if we prayed for the person or persons who have caused us or those we love the deepest sorrow.

What if the LORD allowed us to be a part of another’s redemption story as He does the work in our own hearts so that we might extend the same and display the mercy and grace of God through Jesus Christ to another.

In the power of the Holy Spirit, we can.

In the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ, our Savior, we must.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses and sins, according to the riches of God’s grace…” Ephesians 1:7

“…Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13