StuckSample

No matter how it happens, ending a relationship isn’t easy. Sometimes, the end is clear and clean. It’s two people mutually agreeing to part ways, both parties on the same page about moving on, everyone involved naturally moving forward and growing apart. But other times, the end is conflicted and complicated. Harsh words spoken, hurts that can’t be undone, choices that impact one another negatively, pain and anger that threaten to take permanent residence in our hearts.

So what do we do? In either case, the best solution to get us unstuck from the leftover feelings and painful memories that follow the end of the relationship is forgiveness. If we’re honest, we’d all probably admit that’s not the choice we want to make. Forgiving the person on the other end of a complicated relationship sounds like it benefits them, not us. But the reality is, forgiveness is often so much more about us than anyone else. If we want to get unstuck and stay unstuck, we have to let forgiveness pave the way forward to freedom. It allows us to put down our pain, our anger, our right for revenge, and instead, walk forward in full freedom from the relationship and all the baggage that comes with it. Even if the other person never knows (and they don’t have to!), we can choose forgiveness. Just as God did for us, we can forgive others and, in turn, set ourselves free.

This week, think about who you may need to forgive. Then, begin praying that God would work in your heart to extend that forgiveness.