I met Laurie Coombs a few years ago. When she shared her story, it was one of the hardest stories I heard in a long time. Her father was murdered. The guy confessed and was sent to jail. Laurie battled anger, and it didn’t make it any easier when the letters started between them.
In her new book, Letters From My Father’s Murderer, Laurie shares her story of forgiving the impossible.
I’m so glad she stopped by to share a glimpse of where her healing began. ~ Suzie
Where the Healing Begins
Laurie Coombs
I didn’t want to revisit my past, but I knew I needed to. I had already seen God move mightily on my behalf in the short time since giving my life to Christ, but I knew He wasn’t finished yet.
Healing begins the moment I allowed Jesus complete access to the darkness contained within my soul. Darkness must flee in the presence of light, in the presence of Jesus, but light cannot go where it is not permitted. Doors must be opened for light’s rays to touch our darkest dark. And at this point, I was flinging doors open left and right, begging, Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Soon, I heard God’s gentle whisper––“It’s time to forgive.”
I knew what God was calling me to. I knew I was being called to forgive Anthony, the man who murdered my dad. But quite honestly, I thought I had already done that. Yet over the course of the next several weeks, God slowly showed me that, while I had forgiven Anthony as far as I was capable, I needed His grace to forgive completely, to forgive unconditionally.
But then God took it a step further––“Love your enemy,” He said.
At that, I cried out to God and said, “Okay, God, I get this whole forgiveness thing, but love my enemy? How am I to do that?”
I wrestled with what God was calling me to do, but I had read account after account in Scripture of God redeeming losses. Of God healing physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds. I saw Jesus’s heart toward the brokenhearted, and I believed God could do all that for me as well. I didn’t want my faith to be just a belief system. I wanted it to be real. I wanted it to impact my life. I wanted it to change the way I lived. So I followed, believing wholeheartedly that God would deliver. That He would faithfully keep His promises.
And He did.
What began with a simple, seemingly insignificant call to love and forgive my enemy led to years of correspondence with the man who murdered my dad, through which I witnessed God do the impossible. I have seen God redeem a situation that seemed without hope or purpose. He has brought good out of evil, love out of hate, and peace out of despair. God has truly worked all things for good in my life. And I believe with all my heart that He will do that for you as well, if you let Him.
I pray you will.
You see, God has not left us to sit in our pain. Jesus came to heal. He is our redeemer, and I know it is His desire to lift each of us out of our despair and bring us in—to a new, better place. A place rich in beauty and blessings. But in order to get there, we must be willing to allow God unhindered access to all the pain and bitterness and anger in our souls. And we must be willing to forgive.
Beautiful! Laurie, your bravery and God’s faithfulness paint a picture of a door, fully open, and a space, fully lit. Praise God for His healing touch in you. I praise God for his ability and care to perform such loving miracles in us. Jesus, you rock.
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Let Laurie courage and open heart be motivating to us all! Wow, what a story! What a beautiful, beautiful heart.
Jesus is just so incredibly good! He’s done it! Thanks, Jodie!
Powerful, beautiful, freeing.
Amen!
What a powerful story of forgiveness and healing! Blessings to you, Laurie! Thank you for sharing, Suzie.
Thank you, Crystal!
What a beautiful book, Laurie. I hope to read it soon! Love this: “God has not left us to sit in our pain. Jesus came to heal.”
Thank you, Kim! God is good!
Beautiful! Laurie, your bravery and God’s faithfulness paint a picture of a door, fully open, and a space, fully lit. Praise God for His healing touch in you. I praise God for his ability and care to perform such loving miracles in us. Jesus, you rock.
Absolutely! Jesus is our redeemer!
Blessings to you Laurie for sharing your story! God is truly bringing us into a better place each and every day!
Yes He is!!! He is so incredibly good. Thanks for your encouragement, Lauren!
You are the winner of this book. I sent you a private email. Thanks!
Thank you, Suzie, for allowing me to reach your audience! You are an incredibly woman of God!
Yes, she (Suzie) sure is & so are you, Laurie! 😊
“I don’t want my faith just to be a belief system. I wanted it to be real. I wanted it to impact my life. I wanted it to change the way I lived.”
Lord, this is my heart’s desire too. And now oh Lord let this be my prayer!
Thank you Laurie, for sharing your incredible story! Thank you too Suzie! Blessings to you both!
Indeed, we can only forgive when God gives us the gift of forgiveness first. Your story touches my heart deeply Laurie. Susan
What an inspiring story. Thank you for sharing. I admire your faith! May God bless you and yours.
Praise GOD that he lead me to read this article, it truly spoke to my heart. Blessings to all ,
Ronilynn