Unseeing eyes watched the gripping
motion of one palm against the other. I am
so tired of being angry. Help me,
Lord.
Shaking his head, he pressed the heel of
his palms against frustrating tears.
Okay,
okay, I know I need to stop judging and just forgive him – even though he
doesn’t deserve it!
Then
came the whisper:
______________________________________________________
“It is by free grace that
you are delivered from judgment.”
______________________________________________________
A harsh sigh escaped his throat. Dear God, you are right. I need your grace
every day. Of course it’s the same for Dad.
Rubbing a hand across his forehead, Bill
remembered last night’s conversation.
Lord,
I don’t know why, but I keep hoping dad will stop being so critical.
His father had gotten in the usual jab
about the size of his law firm. I may not
be a big shot lawyer like he was, but I do alright. I wish dad could accept
that I’m not interested in the big bucks of corporate law.
And
I end up angry. Every. Time. Dear God, forgive me for my anger.
The next whisper pierced his heart:
_________________________________________
“Judge Not Lest You Be Judged.”
_________________________________________
Closing his eyes in acknowledgement, he
realized what he really wanted was justice for all the times his father had
hurt him.
Yesss.
I have been judging him.
The
truth is dad is wrong to treat me this way but Lord, you are the only one who
can judge him fairly.
Thinking of the strain on their
relationship over the last several years, he shook his head. How had things
gotten so difficult between them?
Dear
God, I know he loves me and surely he loves you. Why does he have to act this
way?
_____________________________________________________________________
“Not one sparrow can fall
to the ground without your Father knowing it.”
_____________________________________________________________________
The whisper brought comfort.
I
can’t understand him, but God, I know that you know what is going on. I just
need to let you handle it.
Lord,
I do choose to forgive him. Help me to trust you with this relationship.
____________________________________________________________
“He who began a good work in you will
carry it on to completion.”
____________________________________________________________
This whisper confirmed his every hope.
Thank
you, Lord, for your miracle of grace. Thank you for the miracle of forgiveness.
I can’t do this alone, so I ask you to complete this supernatural work in me.
In Jesus name, I pray and praise your holy name. Amen.
His shoulders dropped as the tension
drained away. A smile hovered as a knot loosened in his gut.
Then came a fresh whisper:
_______________________________
“There is a wound.”
_______________________________
My
father has a wound causing him to act this way? Lord, I don’t know what that
wound is, but I ask for healing of his wound. Lord, I ask that you bless him
with full revelation of your love.
__________________________________________________________________________
“The peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds.”
__________________________________________________________________________
Joy sang through him.
Yes
Lord, I ask for that peace in my father’s mind and heart.
Bill sensed God fully lifting the
burden. It was no longer his to carry. His relationship with his father was in
God’s hands, perhaps for the first time. His tears were no longer of grief, but
of freedom.
Have you had a difficult relationship in your life?
Tell us what helps
you deal with it.
Images courtesy of Kittisak and David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
