Healing Family Relationships: Finding Healing Through ForgivenessSample

The final phase of forgiveness is when a relationship is healed and reconciled. But here is a hard truth—it is possible for God to bring us to a place of complete forgiveness without the relationship being fully healed. It may be that the family member who has hurt you never repents, never takes responsibility, or changes his or her behavior.

Reconciliation is not sweeping things under the rug and pretending they never happened. Reconciliation is not enabling or tolerating ongoing abuse. Our responsibility before the Lord, and to our family, is to do everything in our power, as far as it depends on us, to forgive and to seek reconciliation.

We cannot control the attitudes and actions of our family members. They may have no interest in forgiveness or reconciliation. There are situations which require distance and boundaries with family members who are unhealthy or unsafe. But, as far as it depends on us, we can still seek healing. We can still pray for them, choose to forgive, and ask God to work in their hearts. We can still be open to the possibility of reconciliation should they ever come to a place of repentance.

Remember that healing is usually a slow process, especially healing from family wounds. This is not about finding a magic formula or quick fix for our family relationships. The biblical principles in this devotional will give you guidance and encouragement for what may be a long process. The Lord will not abandon you as you take small steps toward healing.

Reflection Question: In what ways might God be calling you to be patient in your forgiveness journey, even if full reconciliation doesn't happen right away? Are there boundaries that you need to maintain during this time?

Healing Family Relationships

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