Here’s an excerpt from my book, Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future, on page 81-82, where I share how I was able to forgive my father.
I was able to reach out and forgive my father because God the Father reached out and forgave me. That’s what grace does. It pursues and reaches out to sinners like me. In a violent act of holy justice and unconditional love, on the cross my past, present, and future sins were forgiven. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (nlt). Now I had to forgive my father in light of how God the Papa had forgiven me.
When I look back into the Derwin Gray files, I think, How can God forgive a person like me? And I hear God whisper, How can I not forgive a person like you? You are exactly who I sent my precious Son to die for. When I forgave my father in response to my heavenly Father forgiving me, I escaped a dark prison cell of self-limitation. The prison doors are wide open! Jesus has paid the price and paved the way, so come on out of that dark prison cell of unforgiveness and walk in the light of freedom. It is time to forgive the person or persons who injured your heart.
