Short Thought continued.....

Lean on Him

 

It is hard when someone lets us down, hurts us deeply, or violates us.

It is even harder when this person does it repeatedly.

It is harder still when this person is someone we thought we could trust and depend on.

 

Those who we do life with and who we love, will at times, despite their best efforts,

cause us deep hurt through being untrustworthy or unreliable. 

We thought we could lean on them and they would be there for us, but they weren’t.

And sometimes, we will inflict hurt through our untrustworthy or unreliable actions.

 

Over the years, I have grappled with deep hurt and violation inflicted by someone who

I love deeply and who I know loves me.  Each time it comes around the wound is re-opened.

I go to Our Lord Jesus seeking His wisdom, His healing, and His guidance.

I also go to Him seeking the gift of His forgiveness and mercy.

 

How many times do we need to forgive and show mercy to someone who hurts and violates us?

‘Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive

my brother or sister who sins against me?  Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”’

(Matthew 18:21-22)

 

It is hard to keep forgiving someone and showing mercy towards them.

Yet, through the parable of the unmerciful servant, Jesus’ wise teaching was:

“I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 

Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” 

(Matthew 18:32-33)

 

Jesus has settled the massive account of our debt: He has forgiven and continues

to forgive our many sins.  He has paid the price by sacrificing His life on the cross.

‘He came to pay a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay.’

(Anonymous Chinese pastor)

 

Jesus’ teaching is: having been forgiven much; do not withhold forgiveness or mercy to others,

 ‘forgive your brother or sister from your heart’ (Matthew 18:35).  So, despite how many times someone hurts or violates us, we forgive and extend mercy to them, remembering and

acknowledging how many times Jesus has mercifully forgiven us.

 

We can also seek refuge in Jesus’ promises,

‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.’

(Psalm 18:2)

 

‘Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.’

(Psalm 31:3)

 

Jesus is a solid rock and a secure fortress in whom we can take refuge.

He promises to wisely lead and guide us.

He is utterly trustworthy and dependable and so in all circumstances we can lean on Him.