Forgiveness is one of the most powerful gifts we’ve been given — and one of the hardest to offer.
Sometimes we carry wounds so deep, words so sharp, or betrayals so painful that the idea of letting go feels impossible. Maybe you’ve tried to forgive but still feel the sting. Maybe you’ve told yourself, “I’m over it,” but your heart still clenches at the memory. Or maybe you’re the one who needs to be forgiven, and shame has been sitting on your shoulders like a boulder.
This isn’t a blog to shame you. This is an invitation — a gentle one — to begin the process of forgiveness with grace, truth, and tenderness. Not for them, but for you.
Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting. It means freeing your heart so God can heal what’s been broken.
Why Forgiveness Feels So Hard
Before we talk about the how, let’s honor the why.
Forgiveness feels hard because:
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It feels like letting someone off the hook.
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The pain is still fresh.
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Trust was broken, and the hurt changed you.
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You never got the apology or justice you deserved.
But here’s the truth: forgiveness isn’t about the other person — it’s about your peace. It’s about choosing to stop drinking the poison of bitterness and start sipping the healing waters of grace.
5 Gentle Steps Toward Forgiveness
1. Acknowledge the Hurt — Don’t Minimize It
You can’t heal what you won’t admit. Be honest with God about how much it hurt. Cry if you need to. Journal it out. Name what was broken.
God can handle your pain. He’s not waiting for you to “get over it” — He’s waiting to walk you through it.
2. Release the Illusion of Control
Forgiveness is not saying what happened was okay. It’s saying, “I trust God to handle this better than I can.” When we hold on to resentment, we’re trying to play judge, jury, and executioner — but it only keeps us trapped.
Letting go doesn’t mean justice won’t come. It means you’re no longer the one carrying it.
3. Choose It Daily — Even When It Still Hurts
Forgiveness isn’t always one big moment. It’s a thousand small choices. Some days you’ll feel peace. Other days, the memory will come back, and you’ll have to forgive all over again. That’s okay.
You’re not failing — you’re healing.
4. Pray for the One Who Hurt You
This one can feel impossible. But it’s powerful. Start with small prayers: “God, help me want to forgive.” “Bless them in the way You see fit.” You don’t need to feel it to say it — God will meet you in the obedience.
Praying for them doesn’t excuse them. It transforms you.
5. Forgive Yourself, Too
Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is the one in the mirror. The enemy would love for you to stay stuck in guilt. But Jesus already paid for that. If God’s forgiven you, who are you to withhold it from yourself?
Self-forgiveness is part of the healing. Not pride — grace.
Outro: Forgiveness Is Freedom
Letting go doesn’t mean pretending it didn’t happen. It means saying, “This no longer gets to control my joy.”
It may take time. That’s okay.
It may be messy. That’s okay.
You may stumble through it. That’s okay.
God is patient with your healing. He knows your heart. And He’s already walked the road of forgiveness ahead of you — for you.
So today, take one step. One prayer. One honest breath. This is your gentle invitation to forgive — and be free.