I just read a blog on Forgiveness by Kelly Johnson, a fellow band member from high school. Now a missionary in Kenya, Kelly grew up in a home ravaged by alcoholism and abuse. Kelly went down a destructive path in response to the trauma, but God met him at his lowest point. Kelly chose life, and when he embraced forgiveness, he found freedom.

Although Kelly’s father left the planet without voicing repentance, Kelly is free of regret. He has seen God’s redemptive power – using pain to fuel passion.

As we review our life’s story and surrender it to God, he transforms our view. As we grow, we learn the wisdom Kelly found and can say along with Joseph speaking to his abusive brothers, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”

Ironically, wounds we receive from the ones we love most keep us from finding identity and worth in human relationships. They cause us to look beyond what the earth has to offer. The inadequacy of Kelly’s biological dad drove him to find his real Daddy.

To those who hurt us most, we can truly say:

“Your arrow wounded me, but God used the wound to heal me.”