Forgiveness is a Beast that can be Tamed
I’ve faced many tough and challenging things in my life. However, looking back, nothing has been more difficult for me personally than truly forgiving someone who has wronged me. “I love you” may be the three most powerful words, but I’m convinced the three most difficult words in the entire human vocabulary are “I forgive you.”
People often talk about forgiveness as a noble act or a sign of strength and compassion. I believe it’s all of those things, and more. But why does no one mention how brutally hard it is to forgive? If you’re anything like me, it can feel like an unclimbable mountain. When someone has deeply hurt you, the urge to hold on to that pain can be overwhelming. In this article, I want to explore why forgiveness can feel like a beast.
People often talk about forgiveness as a noble act or a sign of strength and compassion. I believe it’s all of those things, and more. But why does no one mention how brutally hard it is to forgive? If you’re anything like me, it can feel like an unclimbable mountain. When someone has deeply hurt you, the urge to hold on to that pain can be overwhelming. In this article, I want to explore why forgiveness can feel like a beast.
Squatting the huge weight of hurt
When you face betrayal, disappointment, or any kind of wrongdoing, it leaves a scar. Scars need time to heal. Some are visible on the skin, but I believe the ones inside hurt the most and take the longest to mend. The weight of this pain can feel like trying to squat a school bus. After speaking with hundreds of people about forgiveness, I’ve learned that the greater the pain, the harder it is to let go. And when you can’t let go, you become trapped in an endless cycle of anger and resentment. That cycle will only lead you to a dark place.
The struggle with grace
Forgiveness comes at a high cost, it means offering grace to someone who has hurt you. Extending grace to someone who has caused you pain may seem like an impossible task. But remember, the persistent failure to forgive will cost you far more in the long run than the cost of forgiveness itself.
To forgive is to give up your right to retaliate or seek revenge. This is especially difficult when your natural instincts cry out for justice or when the desire for revenge feels overwhelming. However, it’s important to understand that offering grace doesn’t mean condoning the actions that caused the hurt. It simply means recognizing that revenge will never erase the pain of the past.
To forgive is to give up your right to retaliate or seek revenge. This is especially difficult when your natural instincts cry out for justice or when the desire for revenge feels overwhelming. However, it’s important to understand that offering grace doesn’t mean condoning the actions that caused the hurt. It simply means recognizing that revenge will never erase the pain of the past.
Trusting God is the hardest part
As you navigate the hard road of forgiveness, take hope in knowing that God is fully aware of your struggles. Trusting Him with your pain is the first step. After all, He is the ultimate expert in forgiveness, just look at what He has forgiven in you.
Another step is to trust that only God can place a desire for genuine repentance in someone’s heart. Offer a simple prayer, asking Him to bring repentance to those who have wronged you. This simple yet powerful act of surrendering your pursuit of justice to God can lift the weight of the world off your shoulders.
Another step is to trust that only God can place a desire for genuine repentance in someone’s heart. Offer a simple prayer, asking Him to bring repentance to those who have wronged you. This simple yet powerful act of surrendering your pursuit of justice to God can lift the weight of the world off your shoulders.
A process, not an act
Forgiveness is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. Emotions will surface at different points along the way. Acknowledge these feelings and don’t rush the journey. When the pain is at its peak, it’s natural to want to reach the end quickly. Yet true forgiveness means giving yourself time for grace to work, time to change, grow, and learn along the way.
Steps Toward Forgiveness:
OK, here it is: there’s no magic formula. If you truly want to move beyond the pain of being wronged, you’ll have to do the hard work of forgiveness. The steps may be simple to understand, but they are extremely difficult to put into practice.
1. Don’t run from the pain: Recognizing the hurt is the first step in releasing it.
2. Make the conscious choice to forgive: Make a deliberate decision to forgive the person.
3. Offer grace even when they don’t deserve it: This may include expressing understanding or compassion towards the person.
4. Allow God to work in the process: Rely on your faith to help guide you through the process.
5. Don’t dwell on the past: At some point, you must decide to put it behind you. Don’t let the past continue to hurt your present or future.
While forgiving someone who has hurt you can feel like a monumental struggle, it is also a pathway to healing and restoration. You are never more like God than when you choose to forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it.
When you choose to offer grace while trusting in God’s plan, you begin to reclaim your peace and step into a brighter future. Remember, forgiveness is a beast that once tamed, can become your greatest ally.
1. Don’t run from the pain: Recognizing the hurt is the first step in releasing it.
2. Make the conscious choice to forgive: Make a deliberate decision to forgive the person.
3. Offer grace even when they don’t deserve it: This may include expressing understanding or compassion towards the person.
4. Allow God to work in the process: Rely on your faith to help guide you through the process.
5. Don’t dwell on the past: At some point, you must decide to put it behind you. Don’t let the past continue to hurt your present or future.
While forgiving someone who has hurt you can feel like a monumental struggle, it is also a pathway to healing and restoration. You are never more like God than when you choose to forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it.
When you choose to offer grace while trusting in God’s plan, you begin to reclaim your peace and step into a brighter future. Remember, forgiveness is a beast that once tamed, can become your greatest ally.
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