Quote:
Originally Posted by iNichole
I'm new here, and I didn't look to see if there was already a thread about this somewhere else, so I started a new one. I hope that's ok. I'm not here to start a debate about divorce or whether it's right/wrong/or ok in circumstances, I'm simply bringing up the forgiveness factor that ties into it. I've even in an apostolic church all my life and I was recently divorced a year ago. I believe I made a mistake and was wrong in doing so, but I have since then remarried and I'm trying to start over. My current husband is a new convert to this doctrine and was raised baptist. We both attend a Pentecostal church. I have repented for the wrong I've done and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't regret what I did. I had a hard time forgiving myself and I still struggle with regret and guilt. But everytime I feel any relief someone reminds me of the wrong I did. Sad to say, but it is always someone from church. I can't even go in to wal mart without running into someone that snares their noes up at me. People who used to be good friends of mine, people in the ministry that I was close to will walk right past me and not speak, or turn and go the other way. How can I forgive myself and move foward when Im faced with this everyday?? We've all made mistakes, some a lot bigger than others. I don't want anyone to condone what I've done, I hate my sin more than anyone because I know the pain it really caused. But how can we claim to be a Christian if We are incapable of forgiveness? Isn't the blood that Jesus shed enough to cover the wrong? Has anyone else been through this, how did you deal with it?
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Ah! That old rascal, the serpent. Oh, how he is constantly about the business of sowing discord among brethren! Yea, God's Word is true, for we read in
Revelation 12:10 that Satan respects no boundaries, even coming before the very throne of God to bring accusations against His chosen:
"...which accused them before our God day and night." And, not only does Satan use deceived mankind, through whom he endeavors to wreak havoc, turmoil and harm upon God's chosen, but, when and if possible, he can, and does, often use even one's brethren.
My advice (which has always served me quite well) is this: look to Jesus and His actions for an example of what our response should be when confronting such acts by others -
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (
Luke 23:34) An easy thing to do in such trying circumstances? No, yet absolutely essential!
I write from personal experience, for while not for the same reasons as those you've expressed, I've had to learn how to deal with similiar thoughtless acts of others (yes, even my brethren in the church). Patience is the key. Your reward may never be realized in this life, but it surely will in the next.
Lest I forget..... the most important 1st step is to acknowledge a mistake (that you have done), and then
forgive yourself. Admittedly, the latter is often the most difficult, and this is (IMHO) the primary reason why Satan strives so much (by using others) in his efforts to misdirect our focus, placing it upon ourselves and others instead of upon God and His wondrously indescribable mercy and grace.
You shall be in my prayers.
Warmest Regards,
Lafon
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