forgiveness is an act of the will

Forgiveness is an act of the will,
and the will can function regardless of
the temperature of the heart.
~ Corrie Ten Boom

Have you heard the saying, “Love isn’t a feeling, it’s a choice”? Let’s take a minute to explore that statement.

When we love someone based on feelings, most often we’re let down and disappointed. That’s the stuff divorce is made of. I can make a liberal statement like that because I’ve been there. I know.

I didn’t feel happy. I didn’t feel my needs weren’t being met. So I made the choice to leave . . . based on my feelings.

We are a fallen people, living in a fallen world. We are going to be let down and disappointed. And if we act on every feeling and emotion we have, we’re going to continue to be disappointed.

In my second marriage, as I grew closer to the Lord and understood what real love {through Christ} is all about, I made the choice not to leave. Was I let down and disappointed during my marriage? Oh you bet! Too many times to count! And if I was living out that marriage based on feelings, I’d-a-been long gone!

But I made a choice to love.

If we understand forgiveness comes from love, and love comes from God, then we can begin to understand if we’re rooted deeply in Christ, we can choose to love. And ultimately to forgive.

We can’t, and shouldn’t, base forgiveness on an emotion. In our human minds and strength, most often, we don’t want to forgive.

We’ve been wronged. The person doesn’t deserve forgiveness. End of story.

I love the quote above from Corrie Ten Boom . . . regardless of what’s going on in your heart, be it anger, hurt, resentment, bitterness . . . you can choose to forgive. It’s an act of the will.

Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14 {NIV}

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15 Comments

  1. Jessica Lynette October 20, 2012 at 7:30 am

    Corrie Ten Boom is such an incredible example of a forgiving woman. What a testimony she has!!

    Reply
  2. Lauren L. October 20, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    Thanks for being so real, Tracie. True love is way harder than most sitcoms make it out to be.

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