Genuine Forgiveness

     Betrayal, by someone who is supposed to love you,coupled with judgement, is staggering, paralyzing and isolating. It leaves one's soul sliced opened with others to peer at, while you stand there defenseless with no one to comfort you. All of a sudden the mood shifts from well to a sense of doom and gloom. The enemy has struck, and you have been crtically wounded.
     How does someone recover from this? It has been said that time heals all wounds. But it's only God that can do any healing of the soul, if there is healing. Although forgiveness is the Christian answer to healing, and God works in this it's true, I think "feeling the wound" is important too. I mean don't rush into anything thinking you've forgiven just because you are supposed to. This will only be religious forgiven, and not from a sincere heart. It will make you think you have forgiven, but you've only given lip service to God, and buried your feelings inside only to come up again.
     After letting the wound really hurt and burn deeply like a hot coal in your soul, only then can you make a decison what you are going to do about it. Forgiveness must be an act of your will honestly admitting what was done to you and feeling the pain in all it's severity. Don't deny the hurt. I believe that it is only on the other side of this that one can see things as they are with a sober mind. Short circuiting this process is deadly to you, the other person and ultimately the relationship.
     Of course, one knows there are only 2 options: forgiveness or holding onto the offense, and bitterness resulting. But, again it can't be a logical decision based on "should." It has to be from one's heart, even if damaged by the wound the other has inflicted. Reminds me of the cross; the fellowship of His Sufferings.