Discover how choosing forgiveness can unlock profound emotional healing, transforming anger into peace and misery into joy. Explore practical steps to move from seeking revenge to pursuing justice and from brokenness to wholeness through this powerful process.
Forgiveness isn’t a one-time thing. I wish it were, but it isn’t. Apart from the Lord’s forgiveness for salvation, choosing to forgive others is an ongoing process.
As I’ve worked through challenging situations in my own life, I’ve learned that forgiveness opens the door to emotional healing and helps us move forward with renewed strength. It’s not an easy door to walk through, but it always leads to growth and freedom.
If you need emotional healing, here are four ways forgiveness can open the door:
It Turns Underlying Anger into Overwhelming Peace
After the last presidential election, I witnessed a hatred I’d never experienced. Terrible things were said about our president and his family, things I won’t repeat. I was deeply saddened to see social media posts making fun of, slandering, and even cursing people in leadership.
Things got personal when I began receiving direct messages blaming me and my family. This took me by surprise, as I’d never publicly shared my political beliefs or opinions.
As the accusations continued, I felt derailed at first. I even allowed it to silence me for a time.
During that quiet period, I asked God to help me forgive and turn anger into peace. He was faithful in His answer, reminding me of Jesus’ words in Luke 23:34, when He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
The Lord helped me see my accusers from His perspective, softening my heart toward them. He reminded me of my true enemy, the adversary who steals, kills, and destroys. As I began to view things from a Spiritual standpoint, underlying anger turned to overwhelming peace.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean we’ll always reconcile with our offenders, and that’s ok. But it’s still a choice to love and forgive them. The Bible is our true guide in these situations, saying, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
God’s love is foundational for emotional healing. When we choose Christ’s love instead of unforgiveness, we live in peace, no matter what anyone else says or does.
Here’s a prayer for peace over anger:
Lord, the hurt and anger I feel are sometimes overpowering. Please replace my sinful anger with Your great love and mercy. Father, my accusers do not know what they do, so I choose to forgive them. I receive Your overwhelming peace today, in the mighty name of Jesus.
It Turns Growing Misery into Fullness of Joy
In my half-century of life, I’ve noticed unforgiving people are the most miserable. The proverbial “chip on the shoulder” is apparent in those who are holding on to grudges, unwilling to forgive.
The remedy is found in Nehemiah 8:10, which says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” True and lasting joy in Christ enables us to forgive. Instead of focusing on everything negative, with a victim mentality, we are strengthened in our inner man to rejoice in the Lord always.
The Holy Spirit delivers us from misery by filling us with the abundant joy of His presence. When He dwells within us, we have His fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Refusing to forgive is like carrying a backpack full of stones. Each stone is heavily laden with negativity, wrongdoing, and offense. Over time, the backpack feels so heavy that it becomes wearisome to put one foot in front of the other. When you choose forgiveness, however, the burden of misery lifts from your shoulders and provides immense relief. What joy is found when we release every stone of offense to the Savior! He knows what to do with our miserable mess and offers us the emotional healing.
Here’s a prayer to turn misery into fullness of joy:
Lord, I have allowed others to make me miserable far too long. Today, I choose joy. Your joy is my strength, enabling me to release every offense to You. Thank You for removing this heavy load of unforgiveness. You are my true and lasting joy! In Jesus’ holy name, amen.
It Turns Seeking Revenge into Seeking Justice
In recent weeks, we’ve witnessed the terrible display of people cheering the downfall (and deaths) of others. Revenge seems to be the motivator without considering the emotional damage it’s doing. Disguised as a form of justice, it only masks hearts of unforgiveness and hatred.
No matter how much we disagree with people, wishing harm or ill will is never ok. In fact, the Bible instructs just the opposite: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
Forgiveness for our enemies is difficult, and revenge might seem like the logical next step. But when we allow time for our emotions to settle and the Holy Spirit to step in, we’re able to see things from a sense of true justice—God’s holy standard for living.
Praise the Lord for His righteousness. We can trust Him when He says, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay.” (Deuteronomy 32:35)
Tremendous healing occurs when we hand over the gavel to our righteous Judge. He will reveal everything and make all things new. We can trust Him over every strong feeling of revenge or payback.
Here’s a prayer for justice over revenge:
Lord, because I am hurt and wounded, I want to hurt and wound others. Please forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Help me forgive completely and leave all vengeance to You. This is the only way forward in true justice and peace. In Jesus’ righteous name, amen.
It Turns Brokenness into Wholeness
The saddest part about unforgiveness is that it keeps us broken, disabling us from walking in wholeness with Christ. When bitterness takes root, we are consumed by wrongdoing instead of living the right way. The longer this continues, the more we struggle to move forward in God’s will and purpose.
As forgiveness opens the door to emotional healing, we’re led into the pasture of God’s presence and peace. Our broken, bitter hearts are mended in the quietness of His love and grace. As Psalm 23 so beautifully illustrates: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Vs. 1-3)
Imagine forgiveness as a journey. You’re standing at the fence line with a decision to make. You can step into the pasture of forgiveness or remain at the gate where thorns and thistles lie. The choice is yours.
Hear the Good Shepherd calling you today. He replaces anger with peace and turns misery to joy. He picks up your broken pieces and restores your soul. Will you walk through the door of forgiveness today? The gate is open and the Savior is calling. You won’t regret this healing step toward greater peace, joy, and wholeness in Christ.
More resources for forgiveness:
The Liberating Power of Forgiveness
6 Powerful Steps toward Truly Forgiving Someone
5 Reasons to Forgive – Even If You Can't Forget
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