Although I want to forgive, I’ll be honest—I’m afraid. Why I am so afraid to forgive is beyond me. Could you give me some advice?
You may be afraid because you believe that extending forgiveness would mean giving in to the other person’s demands and unfair treatment. Offering goodwill from a position of strength while opposing injustice, bearing the hurt of what transpired, and lending support to the other person in the hopes that this person may change is what it means to forgive.
You may be afraid because you have never forgiven someone before, thus you are afraid of the change itself because you don’t know how it works. It is comparable to starting a new career or relocating to a new apartment. When we don’t know something, it can scare us. You will be able to recognize forgiveness’s life-giving qualities and lessen the fear associated with embarking on this new journey if you make an effort to practice it.
