I don’t like to make bread. It just seems too long and tedious for me. Shortbreads are more my style, the mix, and stick in the oven kind. However, real bread isn’t like that. You mix it up, let it sit forever, then knead it, let it sit some more and then, finally, put it in the oven. Ugh! That’s just too many steps for me. It takes way too long, especially the letting it sit to rise part. But that is an important step because that’s when the yeast works.
The process of forgiving is a lot like making bread. There are action steps to take and yet, there are places to wait and let the yeast work. The yeast of forgiveness works silently through your life to heal hurt. I can’t explain how yeast works any more than I can explain how forgiveness heals pain. What I do know is that it works and takes time.
Once the decision to forgive is made, or the yeast added, it’s set in motion and begins to work. It keeps working until complete, just as yeast does in bread. When making bread, you don’t just add yeast and do nothing, there are active steps to mix it in and knead the dough. Likewise, there are active steps to work forgiveness into your pain.
I’ve experienced the healing power of forgiveness. To forgive is not a Band-Aid to cover up the pain. Instead, it’s a transformation God works inside and through you and your heart, much like yeast transforms bread.
To forgive is God’s way. So work the yeast of forgiveness into your life and let the yeast of forgiveness work in your life. You have to work it in, but also let it work. Healing and peace are the results. Jesus says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
Action Step: List your pain. Picture this pain as unleavened bread dough. Picture yeast as forgiveness. Mix it into your dough. Then let it sit and allow God to begin working the yeast of forgiveness in your soul.
Scripture:
John 6:35; Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Deuteronomy 16:3; Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste—so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt.
Lev 7:13 Along with their fellowship offering of thanksgiving they are to present an offering with thick loaves of bread made with yeast.
Isaiah 58:8; “Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”