Finding Forgiveness

The more I read the scriptures and learn the way Jesus handled and reacted to situations, the more I am in awe. I realize how much I am  not like him, and yet, how much I desire to be.

Forgiveness. Since becoming a Christian I have heard how Jesus forgives me, how I must forgive myself and how I must forgive others. But the reality of being able to accomplish forgiveness is so much harder than it seems.

Today I am challenged by the example of  Corrie ten Boom. She lived to give freedom to others. The ten Boom family hid, fed and protected Jews during Nazi-occupied Holland in 1944.  After being turned into Nazi authorities, Corrie, her sisiter Betsie, and her father Casper were arrested, beaten and charged with hiding Jews.  Both, Betsie and Casper died in prison. Corrie was eventually released in June 1945.

Corrie eventually learned the informant was a neighbor who came to ask the family for help. Four months after being released from Ravensbruck death camp, Corrie wrote the following letter.

     ... I heard that most probably you are the one who betrayed me. I went through ten months of concentration camp. My father died...and my sister died in prison. The harm you planned was turned into good for me by God. I came nearer to Him. I have prayed for you, that the Lord may accept you if you will repent. I have forgiven you everything. God will also forgive you everything if you ask Him... 

This was the beginning and the turning point of her life's work. She went on to become a public speaker and author of five best-selling books. She established rehabilitation homes for people scarred by the war. She later said she was simply "the skin on the hands of God."

     But before she was able to accomplish so much God had to first teach her about forgiveness... which ultimately led her to first forgive her betrayer.

I am challenged by Corrie's example. How many times have I been wronged and did not react with forgiveness. Her choice to forgive came from the deep understanding of Christ's forgiveness for her. Only now am I starting to see the greatness in using "those things that were meant to destroy" for my own benefit. Today my prayer is that I will be more like Corrie; More like Jesus.

Adaptation and readings taken from 

The One Year Christian History by

E. Michael & Sharon Rusten