🔥 “Just forgive and move on.”
Ever had someone say that to you, and you just wanted to… lay hands (not the prayerful kind) on them? 😤
Yeah, me too.
Forgiveness sounds easy until you’re the one who’s been betrayed, backstabbed, abandoned, or broken beyond words.
We know what Jesus said:
- 📖 “Forgive seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:22)
- 📖 “If you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:15)
But what if… I just can’t?
What if the pain still burns?
What if the wound is still fresh?
What if they never apologized?
What if I don’t even want to forgive? 😤
1. But They Don’t Deserve It! (Spoiler: Neither Do We 🤦🏽♂️)
Let’s be honest—some offenses feel unforgivable.
🚪 A trusted friend betrays you.
💔 A parent wounds you deeply.
⚖️ A person ruins your reputation.
And yet, here comes Jesus, asking us to forgive.
Not because they deserve it,
But because we didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness either.
📖 “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8)
Forgiveness isn’t excusing their sin—it’s releasing them from being the lord over your heart.
It’s trusting God to handle justice instead of letting bitterness consume you.
Because, let’s be real—bitterness feels powerful, but it only poisons the one holding it.
2. “But I Still Feel Angry!” (Good. That Means You’re Human.)
Forgiveness isn’t pretending like nothing happened.
David didn’t fake-smile at Saul while dodging spears. 🏹
Jesus didn’t laugh off Judas’ betrayal. 💔
Even God expresses righteous anger. 🔥
Forgiveness isn’t a one-time event—it’s a process.
It’s choosing, every time the anger flares up, to say:
“Lord, I release them into Your hands.”
And some days, you’ll need to say that 147 times before breakfast. 😩
3. What If I Don’t Feel Forgiving? (You Don’t Have To—Yet.)
Ever notice how Jesus never said,
“Feel forgiveness in your heart, and then act on it.”
Nope. Instead, He commands us to do it.
Because forgiveness isn’t an emotion.
It’s an act of obedience.
When you start praying for the person who hurt you—
Not “Lord, break their legs” but “Lord, heal them”—
Your heart slowly starts to change.
It might take time.
It might take prayer.
It might take tears.
But you’ll wake up one day and realize…
The bitterness has loosened its grip.
And in its place? Freedom.
4. But What If They Hurt Me Again? (Set Boundaries, Not Barriers.)
Forgiveness doesn’t mean handing them a free pass to hurt you again.
It doesn’t mean ignoring wisdom or setting yourself up for more damage.
🔒 Forgiveness is releasing the offense.
🚪 Boundaries are protecting your heart.
Jesus forgave freely, but He didn’t entrust Himself to everyone. (John 2:24-25)
You can love someone from a distance.
You can pray for someone and not let them back into your inner circle.
You can forgive and still be wise.
Because grace isn’t naïve. It’s just freeing.
Final Thought: “But What If I’m Not Ready?”
Then be honest with God.
“Lord, I want to obey You, but I’m struggling.”
“Help me forgive, because I can’t do it on my own.”
Because at the end of the day, forgiveness isn’t natural.
It’s supernatural.
And the One who forgave you first…
Will give you the grace to do the same.
What Do You Think?
- Have you ever struggled to forgive?
- What helped you let go?
- Do you think forgiveness always means reconciliation?
Drop a comment—let’s wrestle through this together. ⬇️🔥