I think sometimes forgiveness is hard. It’s hard to forgive someone who has betrayed your trust and hurt you. That’s hard. It’s also something we have to do if we really mean what we say about loving Jesus and following Him wherever He leads.

I think for me the hardest person in the world to forgive is me. I am notoriously hard on myself. Always have been. I give others way more benefit of the doubt than I do me. Sometimes, I think I do more harm by not giving myself grace and forgiveness.

Jesus said what you did to the least of these, you do to Him. What if at some point the least of these is me? If I am harsh and unyielding toward myself, I am the same way to Jesus.

I am learning that it really is okay to be human and fail and screw up. It’s not the end of the world for me when I try to hard to make a relationship instead of trusting God and letting the relationship grow naturally. God knew exactly how many times I would mess up, how badly I would mess up, and how many times I would keep messing up the same things. But He still chose to come to Earth and become an infant for me. He chose to go to Calvary and bear the nails and my sin, all for love of me. That should tell me something.

Jesus redeemed me. That is, He died to purchase me back and give my life meaning and make me into somebody not special, but extraordinary. That’s what redemption means: you are extraordinary, a masterpiece, and you are valuable to God.

This is a lesson I will learn and re-learn for the rest of my life, but I believe that with Jesus, no battle or struggle or heartache or heartbreak is ever in vain or wasted. He works everything in my life into something glorious and beautiful. And the most beautiful part of me has been, is, and will always be JESUS!