2020 Marriage Challenge Day 18

Day 18 of the 28-Day Marriage Challenge

Day 18: Love Forgives

There are times in which love overlooks. What irritates us in others, we overlook in those that we love. However, marriage is not built on our ability to overlook real hurts. Marriage depends on our ability to give and receive forgiveness.We prefer to overlook because overlooking does not require us to face a hurt. We live in denial and pretend as though something isn't that important. Forgiveness demands much more. Giving forgiveness forces us to confront the wrongdoer, name the hurt that has been caused, and make the conscious choice to let the offending party off the hook. Seeking forgiveness makes us admit fault, confess the wrongdoing, make amends, and ask for forgiveness. It's not an easy task.Forgiveness is a necessary component to a healthy marriage. It is guaranteed that we will be required to give forgiveness and we will have to seek forgiveness. This is one reason I wrote so much about mercy in the book Happily. We stand in constant need of mercy in marriage.Love forgives. Yet in forgiving it's vital that we understand what that means and doesn't mean. In a healthy marriage; husband and wife learn to forgive one another.          Application: Read the article The Hidden Cost of Unforgiveness. Talk with your spouse about something or someone you are struggling to forgive.               For more, see:3 Words to Transform Any Relationship3 Reasons You Can't Forgive