Genesis 45:1-2, CEB - Joseph
could no longer control himself in front of all his attendants, so he declared,
“Everyone, leave now!” So no one stayed with him when he revealed his identity
to his brothers. 2 He wept so loudly that the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s household
heard him.
“I’ve forgiven them; why do I still
feel the pain?” This question gives
insight into the difference between forgiveness and healing. This difference can sometimes be hard to
discern. Forgiving another is often an important part of a healing process.
Likewise, experiencing a sense of healing can make it easier to begin to
forgive another. Nevertheless, healing
and forgiveness are not the same things.
Making the choice to forgive someone does not automatically remove the
pain they caused or heal the wound. Forgiveness
and healing processes often overlap, but it is important to understand they are
different processes. Thinking they are
the same leads to obstacles to both.
In the moment captured above in
Genesis 45, Joseph is reunited with his brothers years after those same
brothers sold him into slavery and told their father Jacob that Joseph was
dead. Joeseph has forgiven them, but still,
great emotion rises up in him seeing their faces again. Joseph had forgiven his brothers, but the
wounds they caused had not fully healed.
Forgiving his brothers no doubt helped Joseph’s healing process but the
forgiveness was separate process.
Sometimes, it’s easy to think that
because we have made the decision to forgive someone, we will automatically
heal. While we can’t rule out the
possibility that God can heal us in an instant, most often, healing takes time. Just as physical wounds don’t heal
instantaneously, spiritual and emotional wounds usually heal slowly. Because this is true, sometimes we need to
begin to heal before we are ready to think about forgiving the offender. Forgiveness can help healing and healing can
help forgiveness. They make good
partners.
Questions: As you
think about wounds you have suffered from others, reflect on these questions: (1)
have you made the decision to forgive the offender? (2) How has your decision to forgive or not
forgive affected your ability to heal?
(3) What feels like a next logical step in your healing and/or
forgiveness processes?
Prayer: Forgiving
God, teach me how to forgive like you do.
Heal my heart and spirit of the wounds of the past. Give me wisdom on what steps to take
next. Amen.
Prayer Focus: As you
go through your day today, pray for God to bless people you come in contact
with.
Song: Heart of the
Matter – Don Henley
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