Give more love and grace when it’s undeserved and doesn’t make sense because that’s what Jesus does for us. When we slip and fall, just searching for stability in this wobbly world, He gives more grace, He gives more love, and maybe, definitely so should we.

Have you ever been hurt? Of course you have! We’ve all been hurt, some more so than others. Some a little less, some a lot. Some that would tell you stories that would bring you to your knees. And some still hold themselves in contempt within a position from what another broken human being has done to them. Some have grown into tremendous human beings with an outstanding character that hold onto an unspoken goal to never hurt anyone the way that they’ve been hurt by someone. But the ultimate reality is, we’ve hurt others just as they’ve hurt us.

FORGIVENESS. We get to create our worlds with his help and have the power to change and perceive what we allow to effect us.

Who is broken in this world? We all are! As the old adage goes: hurt people, hurt people. So in the deepest parts of your soul and unforgivenss, have you ever thought and graced another human being who has hurt you, simply on their very own pain inside that has merely and absolutely nothing to do with you?

I was raised in a home of forgiveness. Forgiveness that was graced to me but also forgiveness that was graced towards the world. But that still doesn’t always make it easy. I’ve had decades of inner wars in forgiving people in my life for unspeakable things that at one point, I didn’t believe they deserved forgiveness for. And then I realized, I’ve been forgiven for unspeakable things that I didn’t even think I deserved my very own forgiveness for. But His grace is always sufficient enough.

So have I ever been hurt? Of course I have, I have those kinds of stories that would bring you to your knees. But the only thing that the hurt ever did for me, was grow me and build me. Every tear and heart wrenching moment, it strengthened me. Every word that I can still hear whispered in my ear in my weaker moments, every betrayal that was endured, every lie that was spoken, or negativity that was portrayed towards me. It built me.

But you know what built me the most out of all of it? It was the ability to see the hurt souls hiding behind it all. The compassion to see that little child crying out of an adult body with pain and fear that have never been dealt with, simply because they haven’t been brave enough to. And sometimes, it’s easier to take it out on others, than to cry for help. It’s that simple.

Would you rather be the one that graced them and loved them through it or the one that fought back and made that painful place a little deeper? Sometimes it takes just one person to make someone realize they are worth this life they’ve been given and worthy of love and grace.

I love this world and the intricate and precisely designed souls that God has put on this earth, but what I love even more is learning to love them through the pain. Because we all need love, especially the hurting ones. In life, we have one ultimate goal and urge spoken over our lives upon existence: to love others the way He loves us. So I urge you- love life and others like you’ve never been hurt, and just as much as that, forgive them the way He forgave us. He died to save us and He already knew the pain that was coming and He did it anyways. Love that person that hurts you a little more today- that stranger on the street, that co-worker that aggravates you, or that person you love so dearly that’s a part of you, and watch the world change before your eyes. Let go and watch your heart grow. Don’t forget- always be the one with a vulnerable and forgiving soul versus the hard heart that misses out on so much. In the long run, life will be fulfilled in ways that you can’t begin to imagine. Hand it to Him, breath, and watch Him work.

In the season John and I are in, working with the ministry and church so closely, watching broken and hurt souls come in and lay it all down, loving them through it- you’d never believe the precious souls that were in inside all along. Don’t miss out on the miracle that’s been infront of you the whole time. It’s right there, it’s been right there, and there is more coming, just grab it and love the way He loves us.

It’s never too late to love a little harder.