Episodes 31–36: Faith, Forgiveness & Moving Forward
This season centers on healing, self-reflection, and walking in faith — touching on forgiveness, bitterness, healing from the past, and staying anchored in God’s promises.
Episode 31 – Forgiving Others, Freeing Yourself ~10 minutes
Mark 11:25 – ‘And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any.’
Episodes 31–36: Faith, Forgiveness & Moving Forward This season centers on healing, self-reflection, and walking in faith — touching on forgiveness, bitterness, healing from the past, and staying anchored in God’s promises. Episode 31 – Forgiving Others, Freeing Yourself ~10 minutes Mark 11:25 – ‘And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any.’ This is JUST STRAIGHT TALK. I’m R-E SAMPLE. Let’s talk about forgiveness — not for them, but for you.
Jehovah God, our father in heaven, thank you for another day of life, breath, and purpose. I come to you with humility, asking that you open our hearts to hear your word and be moved by it. Let this message speak to those who are hurting and those who are ready to let go of pain. Help us learn how to forgive—not to excuse wrong, but to find freedom through your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Forgiveness is a word we all know, but few of us truly understand. It sounds good when it’s about someone else forgiving us—but when we’re the ones holding the hurt, it feels like too much to ask. Let me tell you the truth: forgiveness isn’t about pretending the pain didn’t happen. It’s about choosing not to carry it anymore.
Some of us have been holding onto things for decades. A betrayal, a harsh word, a loved one who walked away when we needed them most. That pain gets buried, but it doesn’t disappear. It shows up in our health, our relationships, our peace of mind. It becomes a burden. And that burden doesn’t belong to us anymore.
Forgiveness and Freedom
When Jesus said to forgive while we stand praying, He didn’t say it because he wanted us to do something difficult just for the sake of it. He said it because he knew we couldn’t truly pray—truly connect with God—while we were chained to resentment.
Forgiving others is not weakness. It’s strength. It’s spiritual maturity. It means you’ve decided to stop allowing someone else’s wrong to control your right. Forgiveness is how you break free.
Let’s be clear: forgiving doesn’t mean trusting again. It doesn’t mean inviting toxic people back into your life. Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation. It’s a choice you make with God to release the hold that pain has on your spirit.
Why It’s So Hard
We hold onto hurt because we think we’re keeping ourselves safe. We think letting it go means we’re letting them off the hook. But the truth is—they’re not the ones bound. We are.
Think about someone who’s wronged you. Really think about them. Are they sitting around worrying about how you feel? Probably not. So who’s paying the price? You are. And it’s too high a price to keep paying.
Healing by Faith
God doesn’t expect you to do this alone. He gives us strength through his spirit. He gives us peace that passes understanding. When you say, “Lord, I want to forgive, but I don’t know how,” He meets you in that moment.
Sometimes forgiveness takes time. It’s not always a one-time decision. It’s a daily act—choosing to not replay the hurt, choosing to not feed the anger, choosing to pray instead of curse. You’ll feel the chains start to fall off one by one.
I’ve had to forgive people who never apologized. I’ve had to forgive people who didn’t even know how deeply they hurt me. But when I laid that pain at God’s feet, something happened—I was free. My thoughts got clearer. My peace returned. My prayers got deeper. That’s the kind of freedom I want for you.
Here’s what I suggest:
1. Pray honestly. Tell God the truth. “Lord, I’m hurt. I’m angry. I want to let it go, but I need your help.”
2. Name the hurt. Write it down. Say it out loud in prayer. Don’t sugarcoat it.
3. Release it spiritually. Say, “I forgive them, Lord. I release this pain into your hands.”
4. Repeat as needed. When the feelings come back—and they will—go back to prayer.
5. Fill the space. Once you release the pain, replace it with scripture, praise, or acts of kindness.
• Ephesians 4:32 – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
• Matthew 6:14 – “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you.”
Forgiveness is hard, but so is carrying pain. You’ve carried enough. Today, make a choice. Don’t let what someone did back then stop you from living in peace now.
You deserve freedom. You deserve rest. And with God’s help, you can walk in it.
That’s it for today’s episode. I’m R-E SAMPLE with JUST STRAIGHT TALK. Remember, forgiving others isn’t about letting them win—it’s about choosing not to lose your peace. So as you stand praying tonight, if you have anything against anyone, release it. Give it to God. And walk forward lighter, freer, and closer to peace than you’ve ever been. I’ll see you next time.
Remember – Truth Don’t Change. JUST STRAIGHT TALK