Wilson Adams: We struggle with forgiveness…

4 truths: 1. Forgiveness is not minimization.

There's no minimizing sin-behavior. Jesus didn't overlook it -the woman at the well, the woman weeping at Hs feet, the woman "caught" in adultery, Zacchaeus or anyone else. He didn't wink at sin; He washed it.

Forgiveness is handing the heavy over to Him. Because it's too heavy to carry – the opposite of minimization.

2. Forgiveness is doing good to the one who harmed you.

Q: How do they treat cancer?

A: By poison, burning, or cutting. That's good?? Yes. Speaking truth and holding accountable is: chemo, radiation, and surgery.

Truth is the ultimate doing good.

3. Forgiveness is a process and you have to process the process.

Like grief. Grief isn't a light switch to flip but a process. Just like it takes time to heal physically, it takes time to work through the muddy muck of heart hurt.

4. Forgiveness is not naivete.

"Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" is not contradictory. Nor does it say to put yourself in a position to be hurt again.

Ex: a Judas-disciple embezzles church funds and is forgiven, but do you make him treasurer again?

"Bring forth fruit…" Trust is based on fruit-change and fruit-change doesn't show up overnight. Needed: time.

At days end, forgiveness is a burden cast upon Him because… it's too heavy for you to carry.