The Hardest Words to Say Week 2
Questions
Pray and invite God into this time with Him.
We all have words that are hard for us to say. When you hear the phrase “I forgive you” what do you feel? What emotions come to surface? Does someone pop into your brain? Does a certain relationship come to mind or a specific situation?
What does forgiveness mean to you? How would you define the word forgiveness? Think about the last time you forgave someone or you had to ask someone for forgiveness. How did it feel to give that forgiveness or to receive the forgiveness?
We’re not meant to just forgive and forget, forgiveness is a process. What are some ways that you can process a situation that requires you to give forgiveness or ask for forgiveness?
Read Matthew 6:9-12.
Before we can forgive others, we must ask God to forgive us. When was the last time you asked God for forgiveness? How often do you admit your sin to God and ask for His forgiveness?
Read Psalm 14:2-5.
As humans, we’ve all been hurt by others, but we’ve also been the ones who have hurt someone else. Think about a time (or some times) that you’ve been the one to hurt someone else. Think about what you did that hurt someone or what you said. How often are you the one that’s hurting others?
Look into your heart right now, what would God see if He was looking as well? Do you feel you deserve God’s forgiveness? Why does He forgive us even when we feel we don’t deserve it? How can we take what God does for us and apply it to our lives and relationships?
Read Matthew 5:23-24.
Before we forgive, we might need to say “I’m sorry”. Can you think of someone you need to say “I’m sorry” to? If you know you have to apologize but haven’t yet, what’s holding you back?
What are steps you can take to start recognizing your role in a problem or situation? How can you be more aware of your actions and words?
Read Luke 23:24.
Have you tried seeing the person who hurt you the way that Jesus sees them? Have you tried to understand why that person did what they did? The truth is, we often have no idea what someone is going through behind closed doors. Wouldn’t you want someone to try and see you the way Jesus does?
Disclaimer: For some of us, we’ve been hurt in serious ways that we played no part in at all. Maybe someone took advantage of you or abused you. If that’s the case for you, you are not the one who needs to be saying sorry. You are the one who should be hearing the words “I’m sorry”. And there are certain situations where you shouldn’t be reconciling with the person who hurt you, you just shouldn’t have a relationship with them anymore.
Spiritual Practice
Reflection: Take a deep breath and reflect on the questions you just answered. Think about times where you have forgiven someone who has hurt you or times when you haven’t given that forgiveness. Think about the emotions you felt in each situation and reflect on if they are the same or different. Reflect on a time when you had to ask someone for forgiveness for something you had done. How did it feel to be granted that forgiveness or to not have the forgiveness given to you? Remember to try and see others that way that Jesus sees us.
Prayer: Spend time in prayer with God. Forgiveness is hard. Ask God to give you the strength it takes to acknowledge what happened, process it with Him, and grant forgiveness. Ask Him to help you be brave enough to admit that you need His help in saying “I forgive you” and “I’m sorry”. Ask the Lord to help you see others the way that He does.
