You Forgave, But You Still Hurt

What happens if you found the strength through Christ to FORGIVE, but you are still experiencing HURT? I know that feeling. In fact, I experienced it again just this morning.

I don’t wish harm for that person, and I even pray for that person and want God’s best for them. But each time they are mentioned or I see their photo, I still feel the personal sting.

Hurt may be perceived as simply the aftermath of forgiveness and taken as an encouraging sign that we are moving forward. However, we do need to treat it very carefully, because if we nurture that hurt within our heart, it can damage the progress we have already made through the choice and process of forgiveness.

So while feeling hurt may be normal, that doesn’t mean that hurt is good. What can we do? Here is what the Lord is so graciously pointing out and teaching me…

❤️‍🩹 Recognize hurt as a feeling we should release to the Lord. Hurt doesn’t dissipate with encouragement or sympathy – it grows stronger. So be careful not to think of hurt like a personal pet meant to coddle. We should immediately give our hurt to God so healing can begin/continue. However shallow or deep the hurt is, God is ready and able to bring healing.

⚠️ Don’t call it “YOUR hurt” or “MY hurt.” Because possessing or owning something suggests that you are responsible for it, thinking in these terms reinforces the idea that you and hurt are permanently attached to one another. Not so! You did NOT purchase or ask for this hurt. Hurt does not belong to you; it is not yours. What IS yours, as a child of God, is healing and peace given to you by Him. Keep reading!…

👣 Continue walking in forgiveness, remembering that forgiveness trumps hurt. Forgiveness is an actionable choice you made, forged out of your obedience to God; feeling hurt is an inside matter of your heart and mind. And great news! There is an answer for you going forward! It’s God’s peace. God’s PEACE, which transcends all understanding, can GUARD against that hurt. (Phil. 4:7)

🛡️ We usually think of peace as a balm or a covering, something that fills us or surrounds us. We don’t usually remember that peace also guards. The peace of God “guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.” Peace is not only applied to our past or current turmoil, but it also pro-actively guards and protects against future turmoil that would attack our hearts and minds. My friend (a military wife) pointed out to me that this depiction of peace reminds her of a soldier devotedly guarding outside the tent so the men inside can rest peacefully. Beautiful.

📖 God’s peace fortifies forgiveness and guards against hurt. How do we receive/apply God’s peace, of which there aren’t enough libraries or intellect to comprehend or explain it because it’s that incredible and deep? Our God is the God of Peace, and in the passage below, He explains to us that He will be with us when we put into practice whatever we have learned or received or heard from Him or seen in Him.

❤️ Philippians 4:4-9 speaks to ALL of this perfectly!! Get all of it in your heart, and the next time you feel the twinge of hurt, recall the instructions and promises found in Philippians 4:4-9!…

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the PEACE of God,which transcends all understanding, will GUARD your HEARTS and your MINDS in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such thing. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into PRACTICE. And the God of peace will be with YOU.” – Philippians 4:4-9

👑 I had not read this passage in the light of forgiveness and hurt, but wow! All strength and healing and power and victory is in Him and through Him! And praise His name, we are recipients of His majestic grace and immeasurable peace.