During the 1st session of our online Lent study, we spoke about the importance of forgiveness, and I mentioned that sometimes I think I have forgiven something only to have it resurface again. At the time, I couldn’t think of a specific example, but God showed me one of my triggers the very next day!
Then in day two of the Lent reading I read, “Life in Jesus is not about managing our sin. We become Christlike by receiving an entirely new nature.” That does not mean that our old nature is not there, but it becomes weaker every time we choose to “put away” our old nature and instead “be renewed” by our new nature that we have in the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:22-24 22 You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
This realization gives me hope because in my own strength I have not been able to change, but by submitting my grievances to God, I have been able to let things go much faster and each time, my reaction has been less severe. I hope it gives you hope too.