Could you forgive someone who hurt your child.

jacquidube

Veteran
Jun 5, 2005
1,751
160
59
HERTFORDSHIRE
✟10,195.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
Politics
UK-Labour
I know we are human and God asks us to forgive everyone but seriously could you? If a child was kidnapped and never found could you forgive. Do you think God is asking too much? April Jones a little girl in the UK has been kidnapped and we have heard nothing for 5 days. If you were that childs mother or father could you seriously forgive that man/woman who took her away.
 

LilLamb219

The Lamb is gone
Supporter
Jun 2, 2005
28,026
1,929
Visit site
✟83,596.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
A few years ago my daughter was hit while running by an elderly lady driving her car not far from our home. The lady told police she SAW the girls running...yet she did not stop her car and kept going even after hitting them and the police did not fault her. My daughter and another girl were both seriously injured and had a lot of emotional issues to deal with afterward. I have since forgiven the lady. It's difficult, but yes, it can be done.
 
Upvote 0

jacquidube

Veteran
Jun 5, 2005
1,751
160
59
HERTFORDSHIRE
✟10,195.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
Politics
UK-Labour
A few years ago my daughter was hit while running by an elderly lady driving her car not far from our home. The lady told police she SAW the girls running...yet she did not stop her car and kept going even after hitting them and the police did not fault her. My daughter and another girl were both seriously injured and had a lot of emotional issues to deal with afterward. I have since forgiven the lady. It's difficult, but yes, it can be done.

Did you forgive that Lady straight away or when your child was better?
 
Upvote 0

jacquidube

Veteran
Jun 5, 2005
1,751
160
59
HERTFORDSHIRE
✟10,195.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
Politics
UK-Labour
I honestly don't think so if someone disrespects my wife I find it hard to forgive so if you take away my child I'm turning into the Jamaican version of taken lol.

Im not sure what the Jamaican version is and is Taken a film where the children were taken to another planet where the parents had to give them up.
 
Upvote 0

LilLamb219

The Lamb is gone
Supporter
Jun 2, 2005
28,026
1,929
Visit site
✟83,596.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Did you forgive that Lady straight away or when your child was better?

Not straight away...it took time. Her insurance company kept calling me wondering if I was going to sue them and that first day I really thought I would...but no, I told them I was not going to sue her.

I can't name the day I actually truly forgave her...it was a process for me being the sinful human I am.
 
Upvote 0

BFine

Seed Planter
Jul 19, 2011
7,293
658
My room
✟11,098.00
Faith
Calvary Chapel
Marital Status
Married
Forgiving is releasing the anger and your "right" to avenge into God's hands--
forgiving isn't wiping the slate clean or sweeping stuff under the proverbial rug.
It's acknowledging the wrong that was done to you by another and allowing
God to avenge the wrong. If it's a criminal offense, then that person faces an earthy judge
and jury as well.

The Bergens are a missionary couple who served in Kenya-- there they were attacked by men with machetes, the wife was brutally raped by the men; the husband nearly died
from his injuries.
The Bergens forgave their attackers; however, the men were tried in court, found guilty and are in prisons. All the men got saved.
 
Upvote 0

LekryceMack

Newbie
Jun 7, 2012
89
2
✟15,224.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
True we're all humans and it may be hard sometimes but yes i would. BUTTTT....Why would you even think about that kind of event in the first place?? As a son or daughter of God its really important that we get our thinking straight as the bible tells us to. Because as sons and daughters we have supernatural protection from God. The problem is, when things like these happen, we blame the devil or God. But the truth is we bring those problems to ourselves by entertaining thoughts of "whats the worst that could happen?","What if i got into an accident?" ect. So yeah i would forgive if somebody did me wrong or my family but the outcome of somebody kidnapping my little sister or future daughter wouldn't even happen to me because i trust my father. Thats just me....
 
Upvote 0

tturt

Senior Veteran
Supporter
Oct 30, 2006
15,760
7,236
✟789,100.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
LilLamb29, I'm so sorry for your daughter's experience and can appreciate your strong testimony.

I believe in Yahweh's divine protection also very much but things do happen to Christians. There are numerous Biblical examples. I mean look at Paul. I've found King David's example to be very helpful. When David and his men returned to camp and found their dwellings burnt and their families gone and the guys who just fought with him talked of killing him, Scripture states then David encouraged himself in the Lord. (I Sam 30). It doesn't say how but we all know that David was a worshiper - He worshipped Yahweh. Noteworthy to me is that only after he encouraged himself in the Lord, did he asks Yahweh what to do about the situation. What did he realize? Was it that he knew he could hear Yahweh better after focusing on Him instead of the problem? Something else? Also, he was submitted and didn't assume he already knew what Yahweh would want him to do.

Scripture says to forgive so we'll be forgiven (Luk 6). I really need His forgiveness so I have to forgive. It's not easy. I find I have to pray it many, many times before I even get close. Someone said when you can think of the person or event and there's no pain, then the forgiveness is complete. Of course, we know we can't do it without Yahweh's help. As someone posted the other day, there's nothing in Scripture for us to do that we can't do with Yahweh's help. We can forgive because Phil 4:13 says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

LilLamb219

The Lamb is gone
Supporter
Jun 2, 2005
28,026
1,929
Visit site
✟83,596.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Thank you. And you're right, God DOES allow things to happen. My daughter suffered some things and without revealing too much information about her, she ended up talking to a group of people where she was able to share the Gospel to those who were questioning it and some who flat out didn't believe. My daughter was used by God, placed in a situation that trickled down from her event. So...hey, that's life :)


LilLamb29, I'm so sorry for your daughter's experience and can appreciate your strong testimony.

I believe in Yahweh's divine protection also very much but things do happen to Christians. There are numerous Biblical examples. I mean look at Paul. I've found King David's example to be very helpful. When David and his men returned to camp and found their dwellings burnt and their families gone and the guys who just fought with him talked of killing him, Scripture states then David encouraged himself in the Lord. (I Sam 30). It doesn't say how but we all know that David was a worshiper - He worshipped Yahweh. Noteworthy to me is that only after he encouraged himself in the Lord, did he asks Yahweh what to do about the situation. What did he realize? Was it that he knew he could hear Yahweh better after focusing on Him instead of the problem? Something else? Also, he was submitted and didn't assume he already knew what Yahweh would want him to do.

Scripture says to forgive so we'll be forgiven (Luk 6). I really need His forgiveness so I have to forgive. It's not easy. I find I have to pray it many, many times before I even get close. Someone said when you can think of the person or event and there's no pain, then the forgiveness is complete. Of course, we know we can't do it without Yahweh's help. As someone posted the other day, there's nothing in Scripture for us to do that we can't do with Yahweh's help. We can forgive because Phil 4:13 says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
 
Upvote 0

jminnesota

Newbie
Sep 4, 2012
1,203
29
US
✟16,633.00
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
if they are hurt in an accident that is one thing and that i could forgive but if someone say broke into the house and raped my wife or daughter or hit them or hurt them anyway etc that i would not be able to forgive. i mean i would do all i could to protect them from that ever happening. i know i cant be everywhere all the time. but i know god is always around and god will be the final judge in that persons life etc.
 
Upvote 0

seeingeyes

Newbie
Nov 29, 2011
8,944
809
Backwoods, Ohio
✟27,860.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
So yeah i would forgive if somebody did me wrong or my family but the outcome of somebody kidnapping my little sister or future daughter wouldn't even happen to me because i trust my father. Thats just me....

Wanna make God laugh? Tell Him your plans. :D

Seriously, though, don't assume that truly bad things only happen to people that don't trust God. A) It isn't biblical. B) That bubble will burst eventually and it'll be hell for you. (I know from experience.) C) It makes you less compassionate. Mourn with those who mourn - don't 'correct' their faith.

Our God is taking us down the road of trusting Him even when such horrible things happen. He draws us through the flames, and we will come out shining.

God bless
 
Upvote 0

Angelfrog

Rock, paper, JESUS! I win!
Oct 22, 2009
882
86
Sitting on a cloud in England.
✟9,863.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
So yeah i would forgive if somebody did me wrong or my family but the outcome of somebody kidnapping my little sister or future daughter wouldn't even happen to me because i trust my father. Thats just me....

Hmmm- I'm not so sure of the wording of that! Do you mean then that if something DOES happen to a Christian or their child/ loved one that they aren't trusting the Father?

I can tell you from first hand experience that yes, by all means trust the Lord- but sometimes that means trusting Him to see you through a situation- not that He will never let anything happen to you or your family.

I have some doozies of experiences- including a guy on drugs attacking me and trying to strangle me, telling me I was going to die- and being the passenger in a car crash that police at the scene said should have killed me as well as a few other such fun episodes-and have ended up trusting God more than ever.

When those things happened my faith was strong and I trusted. Those things still happened to me- I don't have immunity against bad things happening and my family aren't immune just because I have faith.

There are plenty of Christians with strong, trusting faiths who have lost children in tragic and evil circumstances- and have had to be strong to help daughters through being raped and sons through being attacked.

But as for the main question- it's so hard, isn't it? I forgave the guy who attacked me. I forgave someone who did something else pretty awful to me. I forgave the girl whose irresponsible driving almost got me killed.

but I have to admit that if that had been my son or daughter in those situations- the forgiveness would not come as easily. My initial reaction would probably be a burning desire to given ten minutes alone in a room with whoever hurt them, with a few very nasty weapons! I'm sure- I hope- I would work through. God is patient and understanding and while I know He would be telling me to let go and forgive- He would be gentle with me and would love me right through the process.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums