What if That One Thing Never Happened?

What if that one thing never happened?

The thing you regret.
The hurt that’s hard to forgive.
The memory holding you back.

I’ve heard people say they have no regrets.

It’s hard to imagine a person who’s reached the wise-old age of 50 (snicker here, because that’s me) and doesn’t look back wishing she could change something or other.

We know God forgives. (Yay!)

We also know we must forgive, although we struggle with that idea sometimes.

So…when God forgives sin, is it still in His view? The Word says “…I (God) am he who blots out your transgressions…and remembers your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25) 

Blots out? Wow. Sounds like they’re gone! Vaporized.

Yes!

The problem, as I see it, germinates in me. Can I forgive myself—or the other person—the wrong or mistake or choice? Is it still hanging around me in a never-to-be-forgotten picture frame? Do I look at it longingly each morning, just so I don’t forget? If so, I’m definitely not forgiving like Jesus.

If God forgives my wrong—and He does—I must forgive others. I can’t hold something against someone else. Even when I think I’m justified in clinging to it.

Which makes me think…if I’m not holding wrong against anyone—including myself—why don’t I just go ahead and forget it ever happened? Live as if it didn't happen.

Zap.

No grudges. No pity parties. Gone. Vaporized.

Which makes me free.

At peace.

Forgiven.