FINDING HEALING THROUGH THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

#thePowerofFORGIVENESS#

You can't under estimate the importance of forgiveness. 

If you are still doubting about the health benefits of forgiveness, come ask me and i shall blow your minds. 

I shall give you a million and one reasons why you can't do without forgiveness.

Several years ago, i was in a church service and the preacher was preaching and he said ' everything you have been through, God has a purpose for it'.

It sounded ridiculous to me, what exactly is the plan and purpose of God for letting me get abused, molested, raped, framed up and wrongly accused ?

What exactly is that supposed to achieve ?

He went ahead and quoted the scriptures from Romans 8:28 All things work together for good to them that love God and to them who are called according to his purpose.

This was while i was still mad at God, i said to myself, is this not another mockery ?

I just could not see how my experience was supposed to meet a need or be for good. 

Here is the society telling me it was my fault all the evil that happened to me happened.

And here was this preacher telling me ' God allowed it for a reason, so i could use my experience to meet a need'.

Haaa! This is too much to stomach, which kind of loving Father would allow a faithful daughter go through such horrible experience.    

I sat back and was reflecting on every incident that happened, the next thing I heard was " give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" 1 Thessalonians 5:18. 

I was screaming inside my head, this is impossible, I never knew my fragile frame could contain the fury I felt inside. 

I was a mess, a walking mess. A shadow of the little girl who was so full of life and dreams. 

I dreaded the night because of the nightmares, until the day I realized that the enemy had me exactly where he wanted me. 

Because at this point ending it was beginning to sound very attractive, the more I think about it the more I found the idea attractive. 

Then, during one of my quiet times I came across a scripture I have read over and over as a child but that day it held a special meaning Matthew 11:28 'come unto me all you that are weary and are burdened, and I will give you rest'. 

I just knelt down and prayed for the first time in several years and an usual peace enveloped me, I even slept off on my knees. 

While i was dozing i heard someone said to me, read Joel 2:25, I woke up and there was no one around. 

Quickly i turned to Joel 2: 25 'The Lord says ' I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you'. 

I sat back on my heels and read the scripture over and over again. 

I most tell you for the first time in years I made appreciable progress in every area of my life. 

I just knew without been told that God was indeed making his words and promises good. 

Every single thing I set out to do was completed within a short time. 

Help was coming from sources I least expected it from. 

Of course like the scriptures rightly said " people you know not shall favour you". That became my experience.

So if you are still wallowing in the pool of self pity, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness.  It's time to let go and let God do that which only Him can do.

I can hear someone ask, what makes her think she is an authority regarding forgiveness ?

I hear another say, if only she knows what I have been through.

Another person just said talk is cheap, she doesn't know what it feels like to be abused, molested, raped, lied against, set up and accused wrongly for what she didn't do.

Let me burst your bubbles, I have been through all of it and even worst. Yes, you heard me. 

I have experienced worst than all of that put together, yet am here because I allowed God to touch my heart and heal my wounds. 

That's why I can relate with every single pain you think you are going through. 

I didn't let my experiences define me, I actually saw it as a learning ground, preparation for greater works. 

 I had always known that I was ordained for a greater path, that none have ever walked. 

Even when things went off the path I had envisioned for myself, I still knew deep within me that there was more that the enemy was bent on stealing from me. 

Then came the years of anger, bitterness, unforgiveness. I even got angry at God, but his mercies and love never changed, he didn't give up on me.

He opened my eyes to the hidden wealth of forgiveness, I learnt to forgive and rid my heart of all the offense. To the point that most of these folks who played one role or the other in all of my ugly story, were even afraid of me.

I openly reached out to them, some even felt I was up to something nasty.

Some came to ask for forgiveness and even confessed to been part of the evil plans that lead to certain sad events and  horrible incidents. 

I just smiled and told them it's ok. That doesn't mean that I didn't have periods when I felt like giving them a dose of their own medicines, I even thought of killing a few of them. 

But trust God, he convicted me and I repented of such ungodly imagination. 

Someone might be asking who asked you for the details, hold your peace. 

God wants to reach out to someone here today, I don't know who you are but I assure you, God sees every tears you have cried in secret.

All the hurt you have bottled up inside, His arms are spread open, waiting for you to accept His warm healing embrace. Don't hold back.

If you ever need a shoulder to lean on and a listening ears, you can always call my attention or send me a dm on +2340730093514. 

Your homegirl.

Jennifer Ebere Richards