As I meditated upon what Jacob said to Esau, “To see your face is for me like seeing the face of God” (Genesis 33:10, TEV), I recalled how my wife and I trusted some close friends with our young family's financial future. But they betrayed our trust, cost me my job, and robbed us of our meager savings. My anger grew with each morning's sunrise. Month after month, we barely made our house payment. The rage I felt gave me an ulcer. “Tom, it is as if you drank a bottle of poison and expected the other person to die,” a loving pastor pointed out. “Let it go. Forgive them. Do it for you - not them.” It took time, a new job, and lots of prayer, but I knew my ordeal was over the day I ran into the man who hurt us most. Fear shone in his eyes, and his hands trembled. “Relax. I'm not going to hurt you,” I assured him. “I forgive you.” His eyes filled with tears as we shook hands. Then he sobbed, “I'm so sorry,” as I embraced him.
Like Jacob receiving Esau's forgiveness after stealing Esau's birthright, this man and I both saw the face of God that afternoon.
Profile Background:
Tom Powell – (Tennessee, U.S.A.), Upper Room Ministries
Prayer Response to this featured article:
Do pray that God gives us grace to see the light in His path always.
(Written by Tom Powell – (Tennessee, U.S.A.) the unrecalled date/year of published time from Upper Room Ministries)
