Introduction to Forgiveness Journey

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Hello and welcome to Walk the Walk . Well , today is day one of our journey to forgiveness . This is probably one of the most challenging things that we all face is truly forgiving somebody who has hurt us . So today we're going to find forgiveness , like Joseph . I welcome you here today and we're going to talk about Joseph's story , a story of betrayal , resilience and , ultimately , forgiveness , in under 10 minutes . So let's explore how his story can guide us when it hurts too much to

Joseph's Story of Betrayal

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forgive . Now , joseph's story starts in Genesis , chapter 37 . If you have not read that story , please do so . It's very important , I think , to kind of help guide us through this journey we're on Now .

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Joseph was his father's favorite son and his brothers were jealous . I can't blame them . Maybe you've experienced the same thing , where you just weren't the favorite child and you feel that resentment towards your father , your mother or your siblings . One day they threw him into a pit and sold him as a slave to traders heading for Egypt . Now imagine how deeply wounded he felt . I mean , he was thrown into a cistern even though there was no water in it . It was dark and dirty , and that's what they did with him . And then they took his coat that the father had given him , took it to the dad and said look , we have evidence . They threw blood on it and said he was killed . They threw blood on it and said he was killed and his poor father grieved for him . He was betrayed by the very people that he loved and trusted , and maybe that's your story You've been betrayed by people that you loved and trusted .

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Now Joseph was sold into slavery , but his life did not get any easier because eventually he was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife and thrown into prison . She yelled rape , which he didn't do . They didn't believe him . And off to another pit he went .

Choosing Forgiveness Over Bitterness

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Believe him , and off to another pit he went . But eventually he was released because of a gift that God had given him to interpret dreams . And then he became the right-hand man of the Pharaoh . He had so much power at this time that eventually a famine had hit and he had food stored because he had the knowledge to know that this famine was coming . So eventually his brothers came to him , not knowing they were coming to their brother to ask for food .

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Now , if I were Joseph and the people that came who hurt me were asking me for a favor or food , you can bet my first response would have been yeah , whatever out of here . But he didn't . I'm probably sure it was painful , painful to see the very people he trusted and loved who betrayed him . But he gave them what they needed and eventually welcomed them all back or welcomed them into Egypt to live . He took care of them , even though my bitterness would not have allowed me to do that .

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He didn't let his bitterness take over , even when he had every reason to be angry and resentful and bitter and hateful and mean . He trusted that God had a purpose and God has a purpose for you and me as well . We ask why , tina , you don't know what I've been through . You don't know what these people have done to me . I , you're right , I don't know . I don't know your story

The Challenge of Naming Pain

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. God does and he has a purpose for you . Yep , we get drug through the mud , we get thrown into the pit , but God has a purpose for us .

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Joseph had every reason and we would have all said we get it . You should have treated them like that , but he didn't . Let's just be honest .

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Forgiveness is hard . It's a struggle . It feels unfair , especially when the hurt is deep and we think you know what . I'm going to protect myself , I'm going to protect my heart with anger and bitterness . All that does is cause you more anger , more bitterness , maybe physical ailments , maybe mental illnesses all of this because of what somebody else has done . Don't hold on to it . It's not protecting you , it's harming you . It it's not protecting you , it's harming you .

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In Genesis 50 , 20 , joseph tells his brothers you intended to harm me , but God intended it for good . Joseph didn't pretend that it was all okay and let's do kumbaya and yay , everybody come back together . It was okay what you did to me . He didn't ignore that betrayal . He acknowledged the pain . The very thing that you need and I need to do is to acknowledge our pain , but also know that God has a bigger purpose for us . You know we probably are struggling right now , as you are listening to this and read through today's assignment , to say I need to name the person . That may just be an accomplishment

Freedom Through Forgiveness Prayer

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in itself is to name that person , because you probably have sworn I will never mention your name again , I will never think of you again , but you're still bitter and you're still angry . So that may be . Your challenge today is to name the person that has caused you this pain .

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Forgiveness isn't saying , oh , what you've done is okay , it's just choosing to let go of the anger and bitterness , even when it feels impossible . It's about trusting God with our pain and believing he can use our deepest wounds for something good . So I want to ask you this today who do you need to forgive ? Maybe they'll never , ever , ever , say they're sorry . Maybe there's no way that they could because they have already passed away . Or maybe it's just somebody who says I didn't do anything wrong , they deserved it .

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Forgiveness isn't for them , that in mind , it's for you . And how God frees your heart to heal . Wouldn't that feel ? Awesome is to have a heart full of love and no bitterness , to have a heart that says I love you and I've put you into God's hands . You are no longer living in my mind and in my heart rent-free . I'm done with you . I forgive you . I'm on the path to loving again .

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Let's pray , father . I admit forgiving is very hard for me . My heart wants to hold on to the hurt . Please give me the strength to let go of the bitterness and trust you to heal this pain . Use my story , just like you did with Joseph , for your good purposes . Free me , father . Free you for listening , and remember do these steps .

Closing and Tomorrow's Preview

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It may be challenging and you may not be able to do it today , and you may not be able to do it tomorrow , but at some point do it , just to bring that person to the forefront of your mind , because eventually you're going to forgive them and you're going to move on . Forgiveness isn't easy , but it's so worth it . So join me tomorrow for another powerful story of forgiveness from the Bible . And until then , may God's peace be with you .