Sometimes I don’t think we realize the power of forgiveness and unforgiveness—in our lives, in the lives of others, and in our world.
One of my heroes is Corrie Ten Boom, author of The Hiding Place
. In gripping terms, she describes the extreme abuses inflicted on her and other inmates in Nazi concentration camps during World War II as well as her personal journey after the war.
Sometime after Corrie was released, she began traveling through Europe speaking about the power of God’s forgiveness and love. After she taught in a church in Munich, a man approached her.
She immediately recognized his face.
He was one of the cruelest of her former guards. She stood breathless as he spoke of his newfound faith in Jesus.
Then he extended his hand.
“If you can forgive me, then I’ll know what you say is true—that God forgives me.”
Corrie felt pangs of anger and rage. She realized that though she’d been speaking to others about forgiveness, the scenes of the Nazi camp played in her mind like an unending movie reel.
Realizing that apart from forgiveness the movie reel would not stop, she began praying for the strength and grace to offer forgiveness she did not have.
She stuck her hand out and clasped the former guard’s.
In that moment, she says, something miraculous happened:
“A current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.”
Forgiveness is a gift that only God can infuse within us. I love that Corrie describes the experience as a “current” that passed between her and the former guard. Though inexplicable, God was at work filling her with a grace and compassion she did not have.
Unforgiveness holds us back from fully experiencing God’s wonder.
And don’t we all need an electric current of forgiveness running through us?
The wonder of forgiveness is that when we forgive—we not only find freedom for ourselves but we extend the freedom to others.
Join us this week as we dive into the wonder of forgiveness. We’re going to explore the power of God’s forgiveness, how to forgive those who’ve wronged you, and how to lay hold of the wonder of forgiveness.
Your #LiveWonderstruck challenge this week?
- LIST. Make a list of the names (or initials) of people you harbor unforgiveness toward. Pray over these names each day this week. Make note of any softening that takes place.
- WATCH. Session 6: The Wonder of Forgiveness on the Wonderstruck DVD (19 min)
- WRITE. Complete Week 6: The Wonder of Forgiveness in the Wonderstruck Participant’s Guide Workbook (pages 132-157)
- READ. Read “.008 The Disappearing Silver Necklace,” “.009 Miracle on the Runway,” and “.010 The Legend of Cactus Jack” in the Wonderstruck book (pages XX to XXX)
- INTERACT. Share your #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK moments on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Leave your thoughts at MargaretFeinberg.com. Share the wonders of God you encounter this week.
- GATHER. Set a time to meet with your small group face-to-face, schedule a Skype date with your long-distance friends, and join the online community on Wednesday, June 8th at MargaretFeinberg.com.
