Author: Chad Bandy

Today’s reading is Luke 15:11-32, which is one of more popular parables in the Bible that Jesus told, “The Parable of the Lost Son.”

A man had two sons.  The younger son approached his father and indicated that he wanted to receive his inheritance now.  The younger son gathered his belongings, took his inheritance, and left home.  As the story goes, the younger son “wasted his possessions on prodigal living.” The young son ended up destitute and broke.  The son decided to return home, thinking he would offer to be a servant in his father’s home, as he would live a better life than he was now. Verse 20 says, “and when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”  The father says in verse 22, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on the hand and sandals on his feet.” Verse 23 “And bring the fatted calf here and kill it and let us eat and be merry.”

Fast forward to the eldest son, who came home from the fields and observed “music and dancing.” The eldest son discovered his younger brother had returned home and the father was celebrating his return. The eldest son was furious and would not go into the party. Verse 29, the son addresses his father, “Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.”

The father responded to the eldest son, verse 32, “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.”

The focus of this parable generally focuses on the association that the father, is God the Father, and the lost son is us.  No matter how great our sin, how lost we become, the Father will welcome us home with open arms.  Great parable.

I want to focus on the resentment and anger of the eldest son.  He was faithful to his father.  He was loyal.  He toiled in the fields and worked hard for his father. He stayed with the father and did what the father asked.  When he saw the celebration for his younger brother, he was clearly angry and resentful.  He made sure he told his father all of things he had done for him, and yet the father was celebrating the son who had sinned. The eldest son felt entitled.

In summary, both brothers were lost.  The eldest brother felt righteous because of his loyalty to his father, very much like when we as Christians expect God’s favor when we follow Him.

I wrote a few weeks ago about our expectations and struggles with modern-day doubt and faith. A relationship with Jesus means we have faith that no matter what trials and tribulations we have, we believe there is a greater lesson, understanding, and good for us.  We also must stay steadfast in our faith, even when things in our life go wrong.  It is inevitable, life is difficult and we will be challenged. God is for us and not against us. We must have faith that no matter how difficult or awful the challenge, God has a plan for our life and is drawing us closer to Him.

Following God and being faithful does not mean that He “owes us.”  Unfortunately, we may think the more faithful we are, the more life “should go our way.”  We equate our faithfulness with the expectation that we will be rewarded for our goodness.

If we have an expectation for Jesus and His impact on our lives that is not based on the lessons and teachings in the Bible, we will always be disappointed and lack faith while we are on earth.  If we think there’s no God because bad things happen, then we are setting an improper expectation that God never intended to meet.  If we think there’s no God because life is uncomfortable and uncertain, then we are setting our own unrealistic expectation that will never be met. Faith is as much about the expectations we set and the benefits we expect to receive.

Fulfillment in our lives comes from the genuine connection and relationship we have with Christ.  We accept the good times and persevere through the terrible times we don’t like or understand.  This is certainly not easy. In fact, it seems impossible in those moments.

The last thing on my heart with this parable is that we as Christians need to set the right example for the people we want to bring to Christ.  We must embrace the difficult times, stay devout, and live our lives in way that non-believers see us as different, in a positive way.  We must live such that others want to discover what we have in our hearts that preserves us through tribulations. Let’s live for God, glorifying Him, be thankful for His blessings and favor, and expect nothing in return. Those same attributes carry over to be a kind and loving person on earth, while we are here. Even though we might be saved, we are not entitled to anything.

Today’s verses come from the Gospel of the disciple John, chapter 2 verses 1-12.  On this Valentine’s Day, we focus on the everlasting love of Jesus.

Arguably one of the best-known stories in the Bible, Jesus, His disciples, and His mother attended a wedding in Cana. As the story goes, they ran out of wine at the wedding. You have likely heard the story before where Jesus turned the water into wine, a lot of wine! Some estimates based the description of the “six waterpots of stone, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece,” would be the equivalent of 600 to 900 bottles of wine today!  But I digress.

The question is, why did Jesus choose His first miracle to be turning water into wine?

In ancient Jewish times, the wedding reception was significant as it was the responsibility of the groom. The quality of the wedding reception, which many times was held a year after vows were exchanged, was a direct reflection on the groom. Running out of wine would have looked poorly on the groom. Did Jesus deliver this miracle to show His gift and not take credit for it? How many people at the wedding beyond the disciples and the servants knew that Jesus had “saved the reception” and produced the wine?

Verse 11 tells us “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” I believe Jesus performed this miracle as a demonstration to His disciples that He was Son of God. The disciples saw for the first time, the power and impact Jesus could have.  Fast forward to the last supper outlined in Matthew 26:26-30, and Mark 14:22-26, Jesus announced God’s New Covenant with man, symbolizing wine as the shedding of His blood to forgive our sins. I believe another purpose of this miracle was for Jesus to make the connection of wine as a sign of His saving blood, His eventual crucifixion and death on the cross.

The Book of John tells us that after Jesus performed the miracle at the wedding, Jesus went to Jerusalem during Passover. This is another popular story of Jesus clearing the Temple, in John 2:15, “When he had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.” Jesus then goes on in verse 19 to say, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Jesus was not speaking of the building; He was speaking of His body which would be crucified and raised from dead. I believe John chronicled the miracle of making wine at the beginning of Chapter 2 because he continued at the end of the chapter to provide the example of Jesus “cleansing the temple.”

Jesus came to earth to shed His blood, to cleanse our souls and save us from sin and death. The production of wine at the wedding represented Jesus’ blood and the cleansing of the temple represented the cleansing and forgiveness we receive by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Jesus demonstrated the most sacrificial and selfless type of love by dying on the cross for us. Jesus gave us a gift that we did not deserve. He endured criticism, doubt, pain, shame, and ultimately a horrific death to save us. Here’s the catch.  The world wants to pull us away from accepting Jesus’ gift. Christianity is portrayed and demeaned as a life of “things we cannot do,” instead of being hallowed as a life of “what we get to do.”

Choosing a life following Jesus is the most satisfying path. We can be content, feel loved, and know we are wanted. Jesus loves us and wants to have a relationship with us, in which we believe and turn our lives over to Him. That is the true message of Jesus dying on the cross.

Following the world’s ways which focuses on possessions, selfish desires, addiction, and lust, will not satisfy our hearts and souls. There will never be enough. We cannot satisfy our desires through the things of this world. The perpetual pursuit of material things will leave us sad and empty.

The pursuit of a trusting and loving relationship with Jesus will provide fulfillment, knowing you are loved no matter what has happened in your life.

My prayer is that by reading this today, you feel, maybe for the first time, that you are loved, no matter how bad you feel, no matter what you have done. Jesus wants you to feel happy and fulfilled with your life on earth and spend eternity in Heaven with Him. All you must do is accept the gift Jesus offered. Pray this prayer. “Jesus, I believe you died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins. I believe you are the Son of God. I ask you to come into my life.  Please forgive me of my sins. Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, and truly believed it in your heart, scriptures in the Bible tell us you are saved and will spend eternity in Heaven.  Your Valentine today and every day is Jesus.

It was 2008 and I was on a flight from Omaha, Nebraska to Denver, Colorado.  I was on a Frontier flight, a plane with two seats on each side of the row.  It was smaller plane than I usually flew.  I was seated in the last row, next to the bathroom, in the window seat.  The passenger seated next to me in the aisle was a delightful man, and he was a very big man, and he could not help but encroach on my side of the seat.  In summary, I was completely crammed into my seat, and I could not move.

It was a blistery cold winter day in Omaha, with thick clouds upon take-off. The captain announced, “Ladies and gentlemen we will try to avoid turbulence to Denver today, but it is likely our ride might be a little bumpy, but we will do our best to give you a smooth ride.”  The flight time is a just under two hours.  Little did I know I would embark on the scariest two hours of my life.

From the moment we ascended, the flight was thrashing and pitching.  The nose of the plane would dip down, the back of the plane would go up.  The wings would pitch to the left and to the right.  The entire flight was the plane making loud sounds and creaks along with bags moving around in the overhead compartment, drink carts rolling and smashing into the sides of the plane, and passengers gasping at every wild and unpredictable motion of the plane. Meanwhile, in seat 28D, I cannot move.  I am sweating profusely, and I started to lose control of my thoughts.  I was full panic mode.  I had to get off that plane!  I wanted to walk on solid ground.  I wanted my space.  I wanted to stop the scary pitches and unpredictable motion of the plane.  I had to get out of there!

Yes, fear caused me to lose faith.  I began to pray and asked God to make the bumpy ride stop.  I asked Him to provide wisdom and skill to the pilot and please ensure that we landed safely.  I was not smiling while praying, I was wincing and panicking while asking God to save us.  I felt vulnerable and out of control.  I needed to help, and God was the only thing that could help me.

Today’s reading is from Luke 8 where in verses 22 to 25, Luke tells us about a time the disciples were with Jesus on a boat in verse 23 But as they sailed He (Jesus) fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water.  And they ceased, and there was calm. 25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be?” For He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

The verses today caused me to reflect why do we “turn to God” in times of duress, to save us, to heal us, to preserve us, and not faithfully follow Him when things are going well.  Inherently, we were made by God with sin as a part of our hearts.  Our nature is not to depend on others and live without constraint or dependency. When life is good and things are going well, we often lack appreciation for what we have and take for granted the good stuff.  It is not until we suffer, experience pain, loss, and strife that we can truly know what we want, what we appreciate, and what we are missing.  We are unhappy.  We are sad.  We are conflicted.  We are mad. We have questions.  We want to understand. We don’t know where to turn and we search for meaning, guidance, and direction.  We experience a gamut of emotions, and we want to figure it out.

This leads to me the belief that we, many times, cannot progress in our faith without the experience of struggle and strife.  The worst moments in life are when we search for answers and are compelled to evaluate how we can make ourselves feel better!  These times are when we advance the most. We are miserable and need to understand how to make the bad feelings go away.  I have learned, there is no quick fix.  Sometimes we must work through tough times, and “embrace the suck.” Even though we are on a “rocking ship with crashing waves,” we can have faith that God has a plan for each of us.  We are not alone.  We are not experiencing pain without purpose, and yes, all our earthly sacrifice is for our greater good.

So, what makes us feel better?

1. Reading scripture to learn we are loved, unconditionally, by our Heavenly Father.
2. Studying Bible verses to understand that God wants what is best for us, but it is up to us to turn to Him. God does not allow bad things to happen because He doesn’t love us. Bad things happen because we live in a world filled with sin.  The bad times are what cause us to evaluate our faith and grow closer to God.
3. We learn that Jesus suffered and died to forgive our sins, and we will spend eternity in Heaven with Him if we believe He died on the cross.
4. We learn to have peace during the bad times because someday, in Heaven, all the answers to our questions will be provided.

Back to my flight.  Clearly, we landed safely.  I was NEVER so happy to be on land.  We exited the plane and I had been wearing a jacket during the flight (and sweating!).  I took my jacket off walking through the airport and a gentleman behind me said, “Are you ok, sir? The back of your shirt is soaked!” I was drenched. I did not care.  I was too focused on feeling safe and fulfilling all the promises I had made to God on that flight!

The wind is gusting, the waves are crashing, and the ship is rocking. The captain cannot see where he is going.  During the storm, the combination of wind and rain make it impossible to see out the windows of the ship.  Managing the direction of the vessel is impossible without instruments.  Namely, one of the most important instruments for the captain of the ship is the compass.  The compass does not fail.  It directs the captain, regardless of the wind speed, the height of the crashing waves, or the pitching of the vessel, the compass directs the captain where to steer the ship.

Your phone rings, and your sister tells you she is sick, and the prognosis is not good.  You are talking to your cousin, and he tells you he and his wife are getting a divorce. You get a text and one of your children tells you they are depressed and having a difficult time.  You take your spouse to the doctor to find out they have a life-threatening illness and there is a slim chance of survival.  The list goes on. The “storms” in our lives are real.

Navigating life can be like sailing a ship through a storm.   There are many “battles and storms” for us to fight.  Difficult situations come in the form of physical ailments and illness, marital challenges, emotional or mental issues, as well as financial challenges.  All the while, we must navigate the decisions we make in the “middle of a storm” and decide which direction to “steer our ship.”

How do we make the right decision during times of the great turmoil? What is your compass?  Where do you turn for advice or counsel during the “storms of life?”

The Bible is the perfect compass.  The Word of God can be a compass that provides you confidence and solace “during the storm.”  Yes, the storms are inevitable.  We are all sinners, and we are going to make wrong choices daily.  It is not a matter of if, but a matter of when the storms will happen. Relatives get sick.  Our children and family have challenges. Life is not about preventing the storms but knowing how to “steer your ship” with confidence and assurance in the “rough seas.”

Today’s reading is from Hebrews 10:35-38 which says 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.  36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith, but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him.

As a Christian, I continue to gain confidence that “God has got me.”  I do not “cast away my confidence” because I am confident there is “great reward” in living my life as a believer in Christ.  I have witnessed first-hand the impact a life following Christ has on families and individuals.

I am humbled by the impact Christ has had on my family.  As one example, my grandfather was one of six children, and his father abandoned his family when my grandfather was a young boy.  Unfortunately, we can all relate to sad family stories like this one.   My grandfather grew up without a father figure and could have taken his life in many directions.  He and my grandmother were the founding members of a Baptist church in Olney, IL and was a man who studied scripture and applied it to his life.  He prayed regularly and set the example for our family to choose a life with Jesus. He could have ended up angry, bitter, and frankly could have continued the string of a bad father and bad husband.  He chose not to.  He was a God-fearing man that led his family to follow Jesus Christ.  I believe he was a better man than his earthly father, because he believed in his Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ.

Following Jesus Christ does not reduce or rid us of the pain of life.  Sins still conquer us.  Emotions still overwhelm us.  We make bad choices and must live with the consequences.

Scripture provides us comfort and confidence that we are loved, regardless of the severity of our sin.  I live confidently knowing that I have a rudder and a compass during my storms, and I will “face the wind, the rain, and the waves” with a smile on my face knowing that my captain will direct me to safety.

Philippians 4:6-7 says 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I encourage you to remember that our pain in life does not reflect a lack of presence of God. God’s goodness is not contingent on our circumstances.  Our pain provides us opportunity to dive into the Word of God and seek to understand how a relationship with Christ can bring us peace and rest during the most impossible times.  God wants us to choose to love Him.  I encourage you to choose to follow Christ every day because when the storms hit, you will have an armor and confidence that you will carry you through it.

As we approach the holidays, many families are planning to get together.  Details are discussed regarding the location, texts and calls about who can and cannot attend, and lastly and most importantly, we finalize who will bring or fix different dishes or recipes for the meal.

Here’s an honest question. Do you secretly wish some family members won’t be able to make it?  Let’s be honest, there are family members that you may not look forward to seeing.  There are relationships that are broken and may seem to have no chance of repair.  You dread the rehash conversation of what caused the strain or worse yet, you are already getting worked up anticipating uncomfortable conversations that will cause more arguments.  Oh boy!  It will be SO GREAT to see each other.  Not.

I’ll start by saying that there may be a history and hurt with family that makes the relationship seem unrecoverable.  There are instances where time and effort to reconcile are futile, as it takes both parties to be willing call a truce.  The hurt can be very deep and may seem too impossible to have any chance of reconciliation.

On the other hand, to challenge us, especially Christians, Christ was very clear about our role to forgive others.  In Luke 6:27-29, “27 But I say to you who hear; Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.” In verse 35 Jesus said, “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”

In a recent sermon, Pastor Andy Stanley spoke about troubled relationships.  He said, “reassembling a relationship is a learned skill. The goal is not always reconciliation. The goal is no regrets.”

Turning to the Bible for more guidance, today’s reading is from Colossians 3, where the Apostle Paul wrote, 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

At this point, you may be thinking “no way my relationship with _______ can be fixed.  I cannot forgive them for what they said (or did).  I will look weak, and I am not giving in.  I am not going to let _______ push me around.  I am NOT apologizing, especially when _______ started this!”

I would humbly encourage you to view the possible benefits of a truce with your strained relationship, to you and the other person.  I would encourage you not to focus on thinking your feelings for the other person can be repaired with a truce.  They likely cannot. You will still not trust them and will still feel hurt from the conflict.  Healing, like any cut or wound, takes time.  It is normal to feel guarded and cautious regarding the other party, until you see if you each can earn the other’s trust.

What is on my heart today, is Philippians 2:5 (NIV) where the Apostle Paul tells us “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

Here is what I know.  I am a sinner.  There are days I am embarrassed about what I think, say, or do.  Unfortunately, I will continue to make these mistakes. If Christ Jesus held a grudge against me, in my relationship with Him, because of what I said or did in the past, I am in big trouble.  If Christ would not be willing to forgive me for the times I have sinned against Him and His commands, where would I be?

What I am learning throughout my spiritual journey, as I study more of the Gospel and Christ’s commands, it is not about “winning arguments” or allowing my ego to be put before my humility.  Life for me is striving to live each day, being thankful for my blessings, embracing the challenges and strife, and knowing that all these emotions and experiences are for the good of my relationship with Christ. I will never understand every challenge or tragedy, but I trust Christ has a plan for me. Our Savior Jesus Christ experienced anger, sadness, betrayal, angst, and unimaginable pain, and He still forgave me for all my sins by rising from the dead on Easter morning.

I am not as good as I could be, and I will never be as good as I should.  But I am learning that Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of forgiveness and humility for any relationship, and who am I to live my life without attempting to come as close as I can to His commands.  I don’t want to take His forgiveness for granted, to build on my relationship with Him.  I want Him to trust me, that I will keep His commands.  Our relationships on earth are complicated and sometimes they seem impossible.

My prayer is that heading into this holiday season, we seek peace in the difficult relationships, with what may seem like an impossible person.  I pray that we are the “bigger person” and open the door for a truce.  True forgiveness comes with time and trust, but I pray we can be more like Jesus and model the forgiveness He provides us.

Pain and suffering in life stinks.  Yes, simply stated, life is hard.  We experience difficulties with our relationships, our career or job, our health, and many times these circumstances have a lasting impact on our relationship, or maybe lack thereof, with Christ.  Perhaps you don’t believe in Christ because you have experienced so much pain, that if there was a God, He would not let all of the bad things in your life happen to you.

This makes me consider what we expect from God in our relationship with Him.  I would like to pose some tough questions.

• How do our expectations of God impact our relationship with Him?
• Does our faith in God come with our expectation that only good things happen to those that believe?
• Do we expect God to fix and prevent our tough times?

Today’s reading is from 2 Corinthians.  This was Paul’s second letter to the people of Corinth, a city in Greece, after he sent Titus there.  Acts 18 tells us that Paul spent a year and a half in Corinth planting a church.  After his departure, the people of Corinth fell away from God and questioned Paul’s motives.  After Titus’ return to Corinth, the people rebounded in their faith and Paul was praising the people of Corinth in 2 Corinthians.

The Bible is filled with story after story of pain and tribulation. We read about sins, death, and sadness, with most stories outlining how Bible figures are being tested for their faith.  The compilation of books that make up the Bible are a culmination of 40 authors over a period of 1600 years.  Not one prophet or author ever promised a life on earth with no pain.  In fact, based on the hundreds upon hundreds of sad and terrible Biblical tribulations, we should expect pain, disappointment, and trials in our lives.

I would like to focus on our relationship with God and how we specifically relate trials, tragedies, and strife to Him.  We hear of inexplicable tragedies each day that are impossible to understand.  You and your family may be enduring unimaginable pain and suffering with no end in sight.  The heartache that many suffer may drive them to question the presence of God asking, “Why does God let things like this happen?”

The honest answer is we do not know.  What I do know is that our recovery or rally during tribulations is based directly on our relationship with Christ during that season.  Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:4 “Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf.  I am filled with comfort.  I am exceedingly joyful in all tribulation.”

One of my favorite pastors is Matthew Maher.  Matthew has an incredible story of tragedy, suffering he caused, and his redemption through God’s grace.   You can learn of Matthew’s story here.  Click on “Watch the Video.”  God can use the worst imaginable situations and use them for good.

Our pride, hurt, and stubbornness can prevent us from turning to God during difficult times.  The grief we experience may take us through an emotional journey of regret, sadness, denial, and many times an anger that prevents us from releasing our pain.  In Matthew Maher’s case, he was the cause of tragedy and horrible sadness, but he said “I refuse to allow pain to debilitate the voice God has entrusted in me.  God is willing to use you, in spite of you.”  Matthew immersed himself in the Bible to seek and understand God’s Word.  It changed his life and now thousands of others that have come to Christ through Matthew’s ministry.

Paul also says in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

When the tough times, sorrows, sadness, challenges, and disappointments occur, and they will occur, God is drawing us closer to Him through the “sorrow” and stirring emotion in our heart to understand that our happiness and sense of self comes from the Holy Spirit and NOT our own doing.  The awful times and suffering during that journey remind us to revere and appreciate the solace and peace that comes from faith in Christ.  There can be a peace and understanding, even in the moments where it makes no sense, that there is a reason for our strife and our Lord will provide a path for us.

I think the question to ask is how to approach tribulation and suffering during the rough times.  I would implore you to “run toward God,” His Word, learn scripture through regular study of the Bible, and maybe even seek Christian counseling. Surround yourself with people that will help you interpret and understand the Gospel and allow you to ask the tough questions related to your pain.

God is not the cause of our pain, but He is the prescription to bring us back to a content and fulfilled life.

Today’s reading is from the book of Romans, chapter 15.

Understanding others is a difficult thing.  As individuals, we have opinions, preferences, life experiences, and beliefs that dictate how we react to various situations.  Emotions dictate how we process challenging relationships, challenging people and circumstances that may be difficult or maybe even impossible to understand.

In fact, our emotions many times dictate entirely how we react.

Are you hurt?  Are you sad?  Are you angry? Are you disappointed?  Are you tired of (fill in the blank)?

Factoring in emotions, we then layer on the type of individual that we are having trouble with.

Are they family?  Are they your spouse?  Are they your co-worker?  Are they your boss?  Are they your neighbor?

Our reaction to be upset or mad may differ depending on our relationship with the individual(s). Friends can sometimes be just like family.  Family can sometimes feel like they don’t know or understand you, or perhaps never tried to.  Bosses put you in a nearly impossible situation as your livelihood may depend on maintaining or preserving your relationship.  And nothing speaks to being more uncomfortable than when you must see your neighbor every day at the mailbox or retrieving their trash cans.

Romans 15:5 says, “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be likeminded toward one another, according to Jesus Christ.”

The wonderful thing about our faith in Jesus Christ is that through the scriptures and His example, we can model our lives after Jesus, who was the only perfect person to live on earth.  We can know that Jesus walked this earth and experienced emotions like pain, suffering, sadness, disappointment, and yes, even anger.  Through all this, Jesus still loved everyone that He saw and He witnessed to the worst of the thieves, tax collectors, and prostitutes to save them from a life of sin and angst.

So back to understanding others.  The truth is we may never know.  We may never know why a family member accused you of something you didn’t do.  We may never know why your parent never tells (or told) you they love you.  We may never know why a co-worker talks behind our back.  Or we may never know why a neighbor is constantly causing issues in the neighborhood.

What we can control is our emotions and how we allow ourselves to react.  We can turn to our Lord in prayer and pray for peace, patience, and to helps us manage how we react.  A great quote from fellow Bible Journal writer Jon Harris’ October 22 post was,

“The more I became focused on praying for mercy, grace and healing in the life of the other person, the more I felt the much-needed grace covering me.”

The grace and peace our Lord provides knows no boundaries.  The worst of situations have proven to be overcome through faith in Jesus Christ.  The unimaginable is overcome. The most unforgivable acts are forgiven, but maybe not forgotten.  The true peace and mercy that comes over us in transgressions of others can only be granted and given by God.

Philippians 4:5-7 says…

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.

Perhaps your forgiveness of others might not mean the recovery or repair of a relationship.  Maybe the hurt and pain will always be there. The damage has been done. But the people around you might benefit from seeing your grace, the granting of your forgiveness, and the example of seeing you “move on.”  Perhaps your forgiveness, true forgiveness, allows the freeing of others related to the relationship, with release of the burden that surrounds the situation.

Forgiveness of others is not always just about us, but other people as well.  May God grant us the strength, mercy, peace, and understanding how to overcome the most unimaginable circumstances and to forgive others in complicated relationships.

Comment on cover photo: symbolsage.com/symbolsofforgivenss: One of the most lauded flowers in English poetry, daffodils represent optimism, happiness, rebirth, and forgiveness. Recognized by their trumpet-shaped blooms and bright, yellow color, daffodils are typically given in a bouquet as it’s believed that a single daffodil represents bad luck and sadness. Daffodils convey the wish to start a new chapter, and look forward to a more hopeful, optimistic future. They’re the perfect way to say I’m sorry.