“And Judah spoke unto him (Jacob), saying, The man (Joseph) did solemnly protest unto us, saying, You shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.” Genesis 43:3

To trust someone is to place confidence in them or to be able to rely on their ability. Forgiveness is to no longer resent another person or feel anger toward them.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  Matthew 6:14-16

If we do not forgive men our trespasses, neither will our Heavenly Father forgive us our trespasses.  However, we must recognize the difference between forgiveness and trust.  Joseph did not immediately trust his brothers when they came to Egypt.  He did not welcome them with open arms.  Joseph tested them.

There are evil people in this world today who want to kill, steal and destroy…they are satan’s pawns.  Both the Old and New Testaments are full of those who are enemies of God.  Ironically enough, the ones who were against God in the New Testament were in fact of the religious sect.

Allow me to be perfectly clear.  The Word of God says we are to FORGIVE those who trespass against us.  Nowhere have I found in the Word of God where we are commanded to place our trust in those who trespass against us.

There is a difference in forgiveness and trust.  Many in the modern church world have blurred the lines and have trusted the enemy.  Make no mistake, the enemy of our souls is faithful.  He can indeed be trusted to forever be our enemy.

Forgive those who trespass against you; not for their sake but for yours.  Declaring forgiveness does not constitute forgiveness.  Lack of resentment or anger toward them constitutes forgiveness.  Anger is a sin and there is but One Way that anger can be removed from our heart…Jesus Christ.  The fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much.  Instead of denying the resentment remains, even after the confession of forgiveness, ask the Lord to remove that anger from your heart and to help your unforgiveness.  God is searching to and fro to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).   He is able to do exceeding and abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.

“¹⁴ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁵ Of whom the whole family in Heaven and Earth is named,

¹⁶ That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;

¹⁷ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

²¹ Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”  Ephesians 3:14-21.

…and Amen.

-Donna Clark Warren