AuntiE wrote:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Trusting means saying, "Here God. I turn this over to you." the implication of that action is you will cease worrying or thinking about whatever you turned over to God.
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)
Forgiveness means saying, "I forgive you for your trespass/offense against me." By forgiving, the implication is you will forget about the trespass/offense which occurred.
With the above as the premise, which is the harder of the two things; trusting/turning it loose or forgiving/forgetting?
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Very good and interesting questions. In my humble opinion, both are extremely difficult matters when approach from a human or secular prospective. In fact I would hedge my bet that humanly speaking it is impossible to do either.
In the same vane, we are sinners saved by grace; notice the order. First sinners, then saved sinners by grace. We spend much time focusing on repenting of what we do vs. what we are.
Even when one is saved, heaven bound; while on earth we are subject to the effects of living in a sinful environment. The god of this world attacks the Christian far more than he does them that he has in his fold.
A Christian not totally submitted to Jesus as Lord of all that he/she is or has is subject to worldly actions. Such as worry, fear, doubt, etc. So in my estimation, both trusting God, and Forgiving others are both possible if one is totally sold out to God.
One has to know what forgiveness really means.
First forgiveness does not mean that when someone hurts you and you forgive them is not to say that you agree that what they did to you was right.
It means that you are admitting that you are not capable of judging them so in forgiving them, you are turning them over to the one who judges righteously. Which is God.
If you will read Acts 7:59-60; As Stephen was being stoned he cried out, "Lord do not hold this sin against them."
unforgiveness is a sin, therefore it must be dealt with. The only one who can deal with sin, is the sin bearer, His Name is Jesus.
Trusting is a faith matter. The Bible says, "without faith it is impossible to please God." Not trusting God is also a sin for the believer. James says in James 1:6-8 that one who doubts is double-minded, unstable, and should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
So in summary. Neither action is possible to the un-believer.
Both are not only possible but a reality to those who are totally submitted to the Lord. Yes the solid Christian can both trust and Forgive. Give it to God and go about your business..Don't know if I made a speech, but just offering what I believe.