The freedom of forgiveness

This essay was originally written as a class assignment where we had to choose one quote from a list and reflect on it. The quote by Lewis B. Smedes immediately stood out to me. As I began writing, what seemed like a simple assignment turned into a moment of revelation and deeper understanding. The Lord really spoke to me through this topic, and I wanted to share what was placed on my heart through this essay:

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that prisoner was you.

Lewis B. Smedes

Reading this, I am instantly drawn to Jesus’s work on the cross. He died for us, so that we could be forgiven of our sins and have life more abundantly, living in freedom. What a beautiful definition of love. He set the bar and modeled the way we should live. There is a truth and lesson that we should take in and apply to life. Forgiveness sets us free. The death of Jesus wasn’t quick, or painless, or easy to endure. It was long, uncomfortable and extremely painful. It came with mocking, discomfort and dishonor. Jesus didn't have to take our spot on the cross. But He did so we could be free. Forgiving isn’t easy, sometimes it comes with a long and drawn out process. It sometimes comes with mocking and dishonor. But the reward of forgiveness. Something priceless of immeasurable worth. 

What is freedom? By definition, Freedom is; the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. A lack of forgiveness will rob you of the valuable treasure Jesus died for you to have. It will rob you from your power, your authority, your voice and the boldness you have access to as a child of God. All things which are promised to you by the blood of the lamb. Isn’t it just like the enemy, who comes to kill, steal and destroy to come after what is yours. To come after your inheritance.

 To have a hardness of heart and a lack of forgiveness is to forfeit your keys to freedom. He conquered hell and the grave by dying for your forgiveness then declared us to be more than conquerors as Sons (Revelation 1:18 and Romans 8:37). To forgive is to follow Jesus and to follow Jesus is to receive freedom (Galatians 5:1). 

A lot of the time we find it hard to forgive others when they offend or hurt us. It’s hard to forgive an absent parent who shows no remorse. Or, an abusive parent who says that they would change but don’t. It’s hard to forgive a friend who stabbed you in the back when you’ve been nothing but loyal. Or a friend who spitefully shares your secrets and problems that you trusted them with. It’s hard to forgive a mentor who left you out to dry when you needed them the most. A lot of the times we feel that the reasons we don't forgive are valid. As prisoners we solidify and add to our chains with reasoning. Not even realizing that it is hurting us more than defending. 

Out of all the words that Smedes could have used toward the tail end of the quote, he uses the word “discover”. The word discover by definition means; To find something unexpectedly in the course of a search. We as humans crave many things and go on many searches in life, for example peace. We all reach a place of searching for peace in some sense. In that search one of the hindrances that we usually come across is unforgiveness. “ I can’t get over this”,  “This keeps me up at night” or “I do this or act this way because of what they did or said to me then”. Sometimes knowingly sometimes and unknowingly. We give the enemy access to our heart by way of unforgiveness. In the search for peace or any other human desire you discover that one of the biggest hindrances is your ability and capacity to forgive. 

As I mentioned previously, Jesus set the bar and modeled the way we should live. In Matthew 6:14 during The sermon on the mount Jesus said this, “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.” We see here that we are instructed to forgive. That by us withholding unforgiveness from our brother and sister, withdrawal ourselves from receiving forgiveness from the Father, therefore blotting out the work that Jesus did on the cross. Forfeiting the freedom He died so that we could have. He instructs us to show Grace to one another and forgive. To extend the same grace that He extended to us on the cross. (John 1: 16-17) Unforgiveness produces bitterness and bitterness forges the links that hold the chains together. We are warned and given the antidote for bitterness in Ephesians 4:31-32. Which says “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

But beyond forgiving others and showing them grace, it’s usually hardest to forgive and show yourself grace. It’s hard to forgive yourself when you don’t show up the way you want to, when you don’t make the right decision, when you don’t love that person well. It’s hard to receive grace when you feel like you don’t deserve it. That is when the chains grow the strongest and the door to freedom seems the farthest. But it’s also when Jesus is the closest and when the blood of the lamb is the most potent. 

Hi, my name is Saliyah and I am an imperfect daughter still being molded by a perfect God. I struggle with receiving God’s gift of grace and forgiving myself. I want to go forth in the light that the Lord shines before me, but the darkness of my past and mistakes sometimes encapsulates me, trapping me back into the yoke of slavery, the prison of guilt and shame. Thoughts of conversations I could have gone about better, words that could have gone unsaid and the impact that my past and actions have had on those around me, those who I was trying to love. Memories of who I used to be, the moments that I once let define me. All resurfacing and lurking in the shadows telling me that I am unfit and rendered disqualified from receiving the grace, forgiveness, freedom and the call that I have received from Christ Jesus. I think the scariest part is the fact that it isn’t some unknown distorted voice. But the fact that it was one that was all too familiar, that voice was my own. The resistance I have of forgiving myself is my biggest hindrance to freedom. 

I too am human, I have the same desires. There was a time where I longed and searched for peace. In my searching I, to my surprise, was found by Jesus. He taught me some things. He uncovered a truth that I would never forget. He is for me and not against me. I am forgiven. Through His love and work on the cross, He has given me the power to forgive others and myself. The power to put away bitterness and break chains that once held me bound. It was while walking with Him that I discovered the power of forgiveness and the freedom that comes with it. That it’s just as Lewis B. Smedes said… “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that prisoner was you.”

Thank you Jesus, for freeing me. 

See verses:

Revelations 1:18

¹⁸ I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Romans 8:37

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

Galatians 5:1

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

John 1:16-17

¹⁶ Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, ¹⁷ for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.