“I don’t want those who are hurting to be further hurt by embedded bitterness– simply because they don’t grasp the true meaning of forgiveness . . . or they don’t know the ‘how-to’s’ of forgiveness.”- June Hunt
June Hunt is a biblical counselor and founder of Hope For The Heart, a worldwide biblical counseling ministry. Each weeknight June hosts a live, two-hour call-in counseling program called Hope in the Night.
In her introduction (“The Struggle to Forgive”) to How to Forgive . . . When You Don’t Feel Like It (2007), June writes that forgiveness is:
a. a decision– an act of the will that results in true freedom when it is done right.
b. a process– often misunderstood. We need to learn the why of forgiveness as well as learn to live out the heart of forgiveness.
God’s call in Colossians 3:3 has been the catalyst for Ms. Hunt’s journey: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Through out the book June’s prayer is twofold:
- that you will learn how to get rid of the “boulders” of bitterness holding you back
- that you will experience the freedom of forgiveness as you learn how to forgive even when you don’t feel like it
In Chapter 1, June cites the popular adage “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” The truth is that words can break our hearts. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 18:21- “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
June notes that words can kill relationships or murder our motivation and inspiration. Unforgiveness weighs us down with too many rocks. The best we can do is trudge through life when that happens. June describes how forgiveness changes the picture:
“When we forgive, we get rid of the rocks dragging us down and depleting our strength.”
Today’s question: How would you describe forgiveness? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Reshaping a hardened heart”
