By Rhonda Stinson
As I sat waiting in the doctor’s office, I watched the fish swimming around in the gigantic tank that rested next to my seat. I find it interesting to observe how living creatures react to one another and to the world around them.
Finally, my name was called and an was x-ray taken. The assistant punched around on the computer and left. Curiosity got the best of me, so I sat at the computer and looked through the x-rays of my neck. I had fractured it 7 weeks prior while lifting weights. I had limited neck mobility up until week 6, but I was feeling great by this appointment. As I looked at the pics I couldn’t believe my eyes. The bone had not come back together at all. It was still in two separate pieces. I had imagined that it was neatly fused back together as it had been before the break.
The physician’s assistant walked me through the images and explained that the bone would never come together which is called non-union. For the bone to come together would defy gravity. Hmmm. So bones don’t just magnetically pull back together? Nope, not this bone. It will form a series of calluses, one on top of another, until it forms a solid pseudo-union between the bones. She said everything around the bone would adapt to the new formation with no complications.
As I thought about this amazing process and the way God created our bodies to heal and reach a state of function again, it made me think of His healing processes in our lives.
Have you ever experienced a fracture? I’m talking about a fractured relationship. Fractures hurt. They’re uncomfortable, and they limit our mobility.
Do you avoid going to certain events because you know the person you’re in contention with will be there? Do you taste bitterness when you hear their name?
God created us for relationship, and when a relationship is severed, it is like a broken bone. The only way to heal this type of fracture is through forgiveness. Forgiveness may seem impossible depending on the depth of the hurt, but it isn’t. I know firsthand the power of God and how He brought me to the place of forgiving someone who deeply hurt me. The bitterness, anger, and resentment plagued me for many years. But God healed the fracture and placed a strong callus at the point of injury. The relationship is not the same as it was to begin with, but it is just as strong. A re-union took place at the point of forgiveness.
If you are in constant pain and distress due to a fractured relationship, it’s time to ask God to step in. Try praying for this person, even if you experience bitterness when saying their name. Ask God to help you forgive this person. God wants this for you. If you truly seek freedom from unforgiveness, He will make it happen. God brought me from a point of hatred to a point of deep love. He can do the same for you. Lay your burden at His feet.
God made humans so much more complex than any animal, even a myriad of gorgeous fish in an aquarium, even in all the seas. We experience a myriad of emotions, but fish have no idea what unforgiveness is. They just swim around, play, defend their territory, and eat. God created us for so much more. Satan is a pro at using our emotions to hinder our relationships. He knows how to manipulate what comes into our brains and out of our mouths. Don’t allow bitterness to feed on you for the rest of your life.
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21-22).
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).
“This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly. Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept” (Genesis 50:17).
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