When You Want Revenge But God Wants Refinin’
Alright, heavens to betsy, Butterbean, you come on an’ pull up a real good porch rocker that ain’t ‘a-leanin’ over like a tired scarecrow after a windstorm ‘cause we’re ‘bout to be moseyin’ on over into one of them there hardest things the Lord done ever asked us to be ‘a-doin’. Forgiveness. An’ ‘a-fore you git to’ rollin’ your eyes like an ol’ mule that done jus’ spotted the vet ‘a-comin’ his way, you gotta’ be ‘a-lettin’ me be ‘a-tellin’ you that Genesis 50:19-21 done slipped right on into my heart softer than a lil’ ol’ barn cat ‘a-settlin’ onto a nice, warm lil’ quilt. Joseph done looked at his no‑good, back‑stabbin’, jealousy‑driven brothers right square in their faces and told ‘em, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.” Now that there’s real faith with steel-toed boots on.
Joseph had every doggone reason to be ‘a-actin’ like a real mean hornet that jus’ got sat on. Done sold into slavery. Done falsely accused. Done tossed into prison. Done forgotten. Done real misunderstood. If anybody ever done had a real right to be ‘a-holdin’ a hardened grudge big enough to be ‘a-blockin’ a big ol’ steel barn door, it sho’-nuff was him. Yet when that there moment done came for him to be ‘a-getting’ even, Joseph done chose instead to jes’ get holy. He done forgave. He done reassured. He done spoke kindly. He even done promised to ‘a-takin’ care of the very folks who done once treated him like yesterday’s ol’ leftovers.
Now, Butterbean, ‘a-fore you done say, “I could never forgive someone who done did that to me,” let me be ‘a-remindin’ you what Jesus done said in Mark 11:25, “‘A-fore you pray, forgive anyone you’re ’a-holdin’ a grudge against.” He didn’t add a lil’ footnote ‘a-sayin’, “’Cept for that one cousin who done went an’ ruined Thanksgiving.” An’ Paul done chimed right in there with Ephesians 4:32, ’a-tellin’ us to forgive just as God through Christ forgave us. That there done means we gotta forgive the liars, the gossipers, the backstabbers, them ones who done went an’ made fun of us, and them ones who done hurt us so deep that we’re still ‘a-flinchin’ even when their name jes’ done pops up.
Forgiveness ain’t ‘a-pretendin’ it didn’t hurt. It’s handin’ the hurt to God so’s it done stops handlin’ you. It’s lettin’ the Lord unlock the prison you’ve been ‘a-sittin’ in, only to discover the prisoner was you all along. It’s done choosin’ obedience over bitterness, even when your feelings are ‘a-kickin’ like a big ol’ Bramah bull in fly season.
Father, be ‘a-helpin’ me to be forgivin’ when my heart feels a whole bunch more tighter than a jar lid screwed real tight on by a bodybuilder. Teach me to release the hurt, trust Your justice, and walk in freedom. Make my heart tender, my words kind, and my spirit obedient. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now, Buttercup, as you git ta’ movin’ right on back into your day, don’t you be ‘a-forgettin’ that forgiveness jes’ ain’t for the faint of heart. It’s for them folks who done be ‘a-wantin’ to be livin’ real free. It’s for the ones who are a’wantin’ to be trustin’ God more than their ol’ grudges. And when you done finally gitta’ lettin’ go, you’ll be ‘a-feelin’ real light, even lighter than an ol’ chicken ‘a-flappin’ off a fence post at sunrise. You gotta be ‘a-lettin God handle the real justice. You gotta jus’ be ‘a-handlin’ the real mercy. That there’s Bible speak for you gotta be ‘a-lettin’ go an’ ‘a-lettin’ God!
With joy,
Gwen
