Lesson 11

Jul 26

What does forgiving have to do with healing?

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.”Ephesians 4:31-32

Forgiving can be very difficult when you have experienced sexual sin in your marriage. Your pain and rejection may seem overwhelming at times and you’re just not sure what to do to stop the barrage of negative emotions that can flood your heart. Constantly remembering the details of what you know actually makes it feel worse.

Holding a grudge against your husband is like eating poison. It limits the potential of positive solutions. Jennifer stayed away from people who hurt her and held grudges against them for most of her life until she invited Jesus into the broken places of her heart. “I learned that James 5:16 prescribes what the Lord has designed for us to heal: ‘Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’ I surrendered all my brokenness and my sinful reactions to the cross, bringing everything to His light. The darkness of my unforgiveness, bitterness, and hatred came falling down. It was then I could truly forgive my husband.”

Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, I know that carrying a grudge in my heart is destructive to my marriage and my soul. Help me get rid of my negative thoughts and seek the healing that You desire for me. Show me how to forgive my husband like Christ forgave me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Information for your prayer partner: When you recognize that negative thoughts are filling your mind, what steps will you take to turn your thoughts to those that promote godly healing?