My conference series on The Lord’s Prayer is one of my favorites, and I especially love hearing from the women who, after three forty-five-minute sessions of content, tell me they had been skeptical that we could spend that long talking about five verses in Matthew 6. Session two is the hardest—for me as the teacher and for everyone else in the room, too, because we cover verse 12: “And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
At an event a few years ago, one woman didn’t attend session two because she was dealing with some fresh hurt and didn’t want to hear about forgiveness yet. Her empty chair that morning was a sobering reminder to me that forgiveness is expensive. It’s a decision, and it requires work
With the topic of forgiveness finding its way into the news in the wake of every new outrage, it’s nearly impossible to dodge the two most basic questions around forgiveness:
- Why should I?
- How can I?
The Lord’s Prayer is a review of the gospel, a reminder that we are often in need of forgiveness, and we demonstrate our understanding of grace by extending forgiveness to other sinners, who are also grace-dependent creatures. A right understanding of forgiveness does not lessen the horror of sin, but is a glorious acknowledgment that sin is deadly and guilt is real. Yet God’s mercy, forgiveness, and acceptance are so rich that we will spend the rest of our lives deepening our understanding of his love for us. The message is not, “Forgive and be forgiven,” but rather, “Be forgiven–and then forgive.”
The Lord’s Prayer is a review of the gospel, and the message is not, “Forgive and be forgiven,” but rather, “Be forgiven–and then forgive.”
Tweet
Big Hurt, Bigger God
Sometimes an author’s own story is so compelling that they become believable from page one and grow in credibility with every word. That’s the case with Debbie W. Wilson’s latest book, Big Hurt, Bigger God. Starting with her own wounded heart from a big childhood hurt, she acknowledges the complexity of loss and the misunderstandings baked into the Christian definition of forgiveness.
She brings to the table her wisdom as a trained counselor and her biblical insight from a lifetime of mining the riches of Scripture. Still, she does not dismiss the reality of lingering pain or offer any quick fixes, admitting that she has “never found a spiritual eraser that instantly removes trauma’s effects.”
Assent to the need for forgiveness is quite different from the act of the will required to step back and allow God to wield the sword of vengeance. Using the acrostic FREEDOM, Wilson unties the knotty topic of forgiveness with the skillful patience of a fellow wayfarer.
Sadly, we will not escape big hurts in our days on this fallen planet. The wounds we collect mark us, but the knowledge that we do not travel alone changes the narrative for Debbie Wilson. Here, she describes the difference: “When Scripture says God has the hairs of our head numbered, it’s saying he cares about the smallest details of our lives. If God cares about the hairs on your head, you can be sure he cares about the hurts in your heart. Trust him. He loves you so much.”
I’ve told friends that I think Big Hurt Bigger God is Debbie’s best book yet, and yet I also recommend her other books as background to this latest gift from her heart. I’ll list the titles below with links to my reviews, and the button below will take you to her author page on Amazon.
Little Faith, Big God
Little Women, Big God
Little Strength, Big God
And I had almost forgotten THIS POST in which I interview Debbie!
Happy Reading!
Holding You in the Light,
Starting with her own wounded heart from a big childhood hurt, @DebbieWWilson acknowledges the complexity of loss and the misunderstandings baked into the Christian definition of forgiveness.
Tweet
New for You on the Bible App!
This seven-day devotional plan affirms that perseverance is so much more than simply hanging on. Those who follow Jesus Christ are familiar with the dogged patience of waiting, because we have read the words of Scripture about eternal rewards for those who endure. So we persevere—sometimes just because God has commanded us to. When the newness wears off, when we don’t feel like it, when everything just feels too hard, we press on, and we press in to Christ. He is the prize.
As you know, I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and it’s my goal to help you along that path. At Living Our Days, I provide biblical content and resources to encourage biblical literacy and faithful living, and now I’m sharing devotional content on the YouVersion app. Visit my profile page to get free access to all the reading plans!
Have You Read the Latest Newsletter?
On the third Wednesday of every month, I send a newsletter with biblical encouragement straight to my subscribers’ email inboxes. Frequently, I share free resources, and the newsletter is where all the news lands first.
CLICK HERE to find me on Substack, where my goal is to help you on the path of becoming a confident follower of God and a student of His Word.
Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate, which means that whenever you purchase a book I’ve shared here through the link I provide, I’ll receive a very small commission. It doesn’t cost you more, and I only share books here that I can wholeheartedly recommend.
Many thanks to Leafwood Publishers for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
Debbie Wilson writes powerful and inspirational messages. Thank you for sharing about her writing. Have a blessed day! 🙂
LikeLike