The Strength to Forgive: Releasing the Past to Embrace a Better Future
People will hurt you—it’s a painful, undeniable reality. Sometimes, the people you trust most—family, friends, loved ones—will be the ones who betray you. They might lie about you, attack your character, or spread rumors to anyone who will listen, all to make themselves feel better.
For years, I carried a heavy burden—resentment and bitterness toward my father. He was absent during my childhood, and that absence left scars that I carried into adulthood. I wanted to forgive, but I didn’t know how. I held onto the pain because it felt justified, and I was convinced that holding onto that anger protected me from being hurt again. It wasn’t until I found Jesus that I realized holding onto the bitterness was hurting me more than it was protecting me. Forgiveness didn’t come overnight; it was a process, a journey, but with God’s help, I was able to release the pain. My relationship with my father began to heal, and it grew until the day he passed away. Forgiving him didn’t change the past, but it changed me. It gave me the freedom to love, to grow, and to move forward without the weight of what could have been.
Maybe you’re carrying your own heavy burden—whether it’s a betrayal that happened last week or a wound that’s been with you for years. It may be hard to let go of pain that feels so real and raw. It’s tempting to hold onto resentment because it feels like the only way to make sense of what happened. But here’s the truth I learned: forgiveness isn’t about letting them off the hook—it’s about setting yourself free.
In moments of deep hurt, I think about Jesus’ words on the Cross in Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” If you’re struggling with forgiveness, whether it’s from a recent betrayal or a long-standing wound, I get it. It feels impossible to let go, especially when you’ve been hurt over and over again. But forgiveness doesn’t excuse what happened; it’s a decision to no longer be chained by the pain. It’s a declaration that you won’t let what happened to you dictate who you are becoming.
Forgiving isn’t a one-time act. It’s a daily choice—a choice to release the grip of resentment and to refuse to be defined by your past or present hurts. Forgiveness doesn’t erase the hurt; it transforms it. It allows you to reclaim your joy and see yourself as more than the sum of your scars. It’s about choosing peace over pain, hope over hurt, and healing over bitterness.
Yes, you might lose some relationships along the way. Some people will never understand your choice to forgive, and others will keep believing the lies and rumors spread about you. That’s okay. The people who truly belong in your life will see your strength, not your scars. Maya Angelou said, “When people show you who they are, believe them.” Let go of those who’ve shown themselves unworthy of your trust, and make space for those who will stand by you.
So here’s my challenge to you: let go. Let go of the anger, the hurt, the disappointment. Choose to forgive—not because they deserve it, but because you deserve peace. Forgiveness is a decision to break the cycle of pain and to walk in the freedom that God has for you. It’s a choice to be stronger than the wounds inflicted upon you. It’s about becoming the person you were meant to be, despite what has been done to you.
I believe in you. Even if it’s just one small step today, take it. Keep moving forward, and trust that God is with you every step of the way. You are not alone. You are loved, you are valued, and you have a future full of hope and possibility.
You’ve got this. Let forgiveness lead you into the life you were always meant to live.
