Losing

My Labor Day Weekend was a busy one filled with much fun! One of the fun things I did was, with some friends, attend a Tenth Avenue North Concert in Ocean Grove, New Jersey -- what a cute town!

First, we had dinner and played some games on the beach. It was a breezy, cool night, perfect for the occasion! Then we headed to the Grand Auditorium for the concert. Now, Tyler and I have seen Tenth Avenue North MANY times - most recently this summer at our Cru Staff Conference in Colorado. So when we were invited to go, we hesitated a little since we had just seen them. But, wow, am I glad we decided to go! Not only did we enjoy time with friends, but the concert was AMAZING.

God really spoke to my heart through the lyrics of their songs -- mostly through their song "Losing" (video and lyrics below). I have been moving towards forgiveness of someone for several months now. I was deeply hurt by their words and actions. And it's so easy for me to [at least attempt to] defend my bitterness and anger by the magnitude of how badly they hurt me. I convince myself I've never hurt anybody as badly as they hurt me! But God accepts no excuses for an unforgiving heart. And by His grace, He forgives us and empowers me to forgive those who wrong me. 

The line that says "But truth be told it doesn't matter if they're sorry or not" REALLY got me -- because the person I need to forgive hasn't shown any signs of remorse or attempted an apology. And while that hurts, God isn't asking me to forgive those who are sorry. He's calling me to forgive others as I have been forgiven (Colossians 3:13)! In humility, I must remember all that I have been forgiven for and I am need forgiveness no less than anyone else. 

And Tenth Avenue North is right, when I'm not forgiving, I am the one losing. It takes too much energy and effort to be angry and hold on to something than it does to forgive someone. Are you experiencing that "losing" feeling -- wasting energy on not forgiving someone? Who do you need to forgive? Seek the Lord, His grace, and His strength. His will is forgiveness, so trust that He will provide all that you need to do so.

I can't believe what she said
I can't believe what he did
Oh, don't they know it's wrong, yeah?
Don't they know it's wrong, yeah?
Maybe there's something I missed
But how could they treat me like this?
It's wearing out my heart
The way they disregard

This is love, this is hate...
We all have a choice to make

Oh, Father won't You forgive them?
They don't know what they've been doin' (oh no)
Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
'Cause I feel like the one losin'

Well it's only the dead that can live
But still I wrestle with this
To lose the pain that's mine
Seventy times seven times
'Cause Lord it doesn't feel right
For me to turn a blind eye
Though I guess it's not that much
When I think of what You've done.

This is love, this is hate...
We've got a choice to make

Oh, Father won't You forgive them?
They don't know what they've been doin' (oh no)
Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
'Cause I feel like the one losin'

Oh, no!

Why do we think that hate's gonna change their heart?
We're up in arms over wars that don't need to be fought
But pride won't let us lay our weapons on the ground
We build our bridges up but just to burn them down
We think pain is owed apologies and then it'll stop
But truth be told it doesn't matter if they're sorry or not
Freedom comes when we surrender to the sound
Of mercy and Your grace, Father, send Your angels down

[x2]
Oh, Father won't you forgive them?
They don't know what they've been doin' (oh no)
Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
'Cause I feel like the one losin'
Yeah, I feel like I've been losing

Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
'Cause I feel like the one losin'
I feel like I've been losin'

Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them
'Cause I feel like the one losin'