“Progress is hard to see when triggered feelings make our vision clouded with intense emotions. And progress with forgiveness can be hard to make when the anger and frustration and confusion from being hurt don’t immediately go away when you verbalize a statement of forgiveness. But please know, not only is this normal, it’s part of the process.”- Lysa TerKeurst
Lysa TerKeurst continues Chapter 4 of Forgiving What you Can’t Forget with a revelation. She reveals one of the most crucial secrets to staying on the path toward wholeness after your deep wounding. Hence, Lysa stresses:
“Forgiveness is both a decision and a process. You make the decision to forgive the facts of what happened. But then you must also walk through the process of forgiveness for the impact those facts have had on you.”
Therefore, in a similar manner, every trauma consists of an initial effect and a long-term impact. So, even though the initial trauma has passed, bad memories, statements, or fears trigger an unexpected wave of pain. Consequently, these triggered feelings serve as a reminder there’s a process of your action to forgive your offenders for the impact this has on you.
Thus, to work on the damaged emotions of anger, frustration, doubt, trust, or fear, you must start the process of forgiving. Lysa explains:
“Remember, the decision to forgive acknowledges the facts of what happened. But the much longer journey of forgiveness is around all the many ways these facts affected you — the impact they created. . . . Like I said . . . there is also a process of forgiveness for the impact that will happen months, years, maybe even decades later.”
Finally, the crucial marked moment when you forgive helps reassure you of concrete progress made toward healing.
Today’s question: What triggered feelings cloud your vision with intense emotions? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “A marked moment of releasing unforgiveness”
