Forgive Lavishly + Reconcile Responsibly
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” – Proverbs 28:13 Here are a few important things to remember about the nature of forgiveness. First of all, forgiveness is not excusing or overlooking. It’s not making light of something that was very hurtful or pretending that it didn’t happen. In order to forgive, we must be willing to own the full extent of our wound so we can fully let it go. Second, forgiving is not forgetting. While God has the ability to remember our sins no longer, that isn’t entirely the case for us as humans. Trying to forget means denying our pain, which is healthy. Forgiveness means that we are willing to let go, even though the wounding was real. Finally, forgiveness may not include reconciliation. While we must forgive in order to reconcile, reconciliation isn’t always possible, especially