How do I forgive someone who hurt me deeply?
The Biblical Answer
Forgiveness is one of the hardest commands in the Bible, especially when the person who hurt you is unrepentant. It is vital to understand what forgiveness is NOT: It is not forgetting, it is not saying what they did was okay, and it does not always mean restoring the relationship (boundaries are biblical).
Biblical forgiveness is a deliberate choice to release your right to take revenge and to hand the person over to God's ultimate justice. We are called to forgive because we have been completely forgiven by God for our own massive debt of sin (Colossians 3:13). Forgiveness is a process, and you may have to choose to forgive them every single day until the emotional pain finally subsides. It is the only path to your own freedom.
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
A Prayer for This
"Lord, I am deeply hurt, and my flesh wants revenge. Please give me the supernatural strength to forgive them, just as You have forgiven me. Heal my wounded heart and set me free from bitterness. Amen."