Forgiving What You Can’t Forget

Keith Priest   -   January 6, 2023

Last summer, I was fortunate enough to lead a book study on Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa Terkeurst. The class was so impactful that I’ll be leading another six-week session, beginning next Thursday, January 12 at 7:00 PM. I encourage you to read and reflect on one participant’s experience in the class:

“Participating in the Forgiving What You Can’t Forget group study was useful to me in several ways. Lysa Terkeurst’s writing style is so personal but is always connected to scripture. Reading the book helped bring some things to light for me. Before this, I thought that if I had truly forgiven someone, it wouldn’t still hurt or affect how I interacted with other people. I also felt like I was falling short of one of the most basic things that God asks of us: forgive others. Lysa’s reasoned explanation helped me understand that forgiveness doesn’t mean that everything is fixed, and the impact isn’t always undone. Watching the related videos helped reinforce the concepts and increase my understanding.

The most important part of participating in this study was coming together as a group. I’ve read similar books in the past and completed the related studies on my own but completing the study in community makes it more powerful. Even though we each have different circumstances, there are still similarities in emotions and reactions. It’s helpful to hear that I’m not the only one who feels this way. Listening and supporting each other also helps make things clearer, and hearing other perspectives is important. One of the most powerful moments for me was when I recommended a different way of looking at another group member’s situation, and shortly after that it struck me that the same thing applied to me. That helped me reset a negative perspective and strengthened my faith. Being in this open, supportive group was a great experience, and I look forward to future opportunities to participate in another study group.” 

If you’re struggling to forgive someone, please know that you’re not alone. Extending forgiveness to others or forgiving yourself for things that you have done is one of the more difficult tasks that Christ calls us to accomplish. You can learn more about Forgiving What You Can’t Forget and register for the winter session here. For more information, please contact me at [email protected],

Keith Priest, Christian Counselor