Budzban: God doesn’t bear grudges
“He never bears a grudge, nor remains angry forever.”#8212; Psalm 103:9 (TLB)
I recall a few years ago, when my granddaughter called me late one afternoon concerned that her father was upset with her.
#147;I told a lie, and now my daddy is mad at me,#148; she explained. I could hear the discouragement in her voice at the thought of her father#146;s disappointment with her.
I had spoken to my son, her father, earlier that day. He told me about the incident and that it was behind them. But apparently not for her.
While she sobbed on the other end of the phone, I reassured her that I had spoken with her dad and that he was no longer upset with her #8212; I heard her sigh a breath of relief.
Then I suggested that she pray and ask God to forgive her for lying and give her the strength to keep from doing it again.
When we sin, we can feel just like my brokenhearted granddaughter did with her father. We can be filled with sorrow over the person we hurt and that we hurt our heavenly Father as well.
Asking for forgiveness is what brings us relief. God doesn#146;t bear grudges. Scriptures express that he is quick to forgive us.
God may get angry or disappointed over wrong actions of his children, just as any loving parent who has a child on the wrong path. But whatever we do, just as a loving parent forgives their little one, God loves and forgives us, too.
I know my son has forgiven his daughter. I have seen him wipe her tears, stick up for her and sing to her and provide for her since that day.
God does these same things for us. He doesn#146;t leave us or forsake us just because our behavior is less than perfect. He offers forgiveness and the power to change our hearts and actions.
It#146;s the lies of the enemy and our own thoughts that keep us thinking we#146;re not forgiven and condemn us. Just as my granddaughter imagined her loving father was still upset with her when he really wasn#146;t.
When we ask for forgiveness we can take control of our thoughts and rejoice in knowing that God doesn#146;t bear grudges.
Ÿ Annettee Budzban is a Christian speaker, author, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted by email at Annetteebudzban@aol.com.