📖 Excerpted from God Jots: Forgiveness and Healing
You Can’t Throw Lightning Bolts If You Don’t Know How To Aim
You ever have one of those days where someone hurts you, and your first instinct is to go full Old Testament? Like, “God, if I had access to one well-aimed lightning bolt…” Yeah. Been there.
But as I say in God Jots: Forgiveness and Healing:
“Imagine if God held grudges. We’d all be in big trouble. He’d be shooting lightning bolts from the sky ad nauseam. But that’s not what He does. He forgives freely and abundantly. And He expects us to follow suit.”
Which is really unfortunate, because vengeance feels like control. Like justice. Like emotional closure with flames.
But God doesn’t go that route. And I’m learning not to either. Because as satisfying as revenge seems in theory, in practice it usually just leaves you tired, bitter, and muttering to yourself in the frozen pizza aisle.
God Doesn’t Hand Out Forgiveness With A Side of Guilt
I’ll let you in on a secret: forgiveness isn’t a reward for good behavior. It’s a gift that doesn’t wait for you to “deserve” it.
“God’s forgiveness is also unconditional. There’s no need to grovel or bargain… it’s a gift He’s eager to give, no strings attached.”
But wait—there’s more! Like a two-for-one spiritual deal at your favorite diner, God not only forgives you, He also expects you to keep that forgiveness moving.
“God is saying, ‘Hey, I’ve got a truckload of forgiveness for you, but you’ve got to make room by forgiving others too.’ It’s like spiritual spring cleaning.”
You can’t keep storing up resentment in the basement of your heart and expect the upstairs to stay peaceful.
Forgiveness Isn’t About Feeling Ready. It’s About Choosing Free
We all want to forgive eventually. Like after they apologize. Or admit they were wrong. Or finally get hit by the karma train. But the truth is, waiting to feel ready is a trap.
“It doesn’t say, ‘Forgive if you feel like it,’ or ‘once they admit they were awful.’ It says to forgive as the Lord forgave you. Period.”
Even when the apology doesn’t come. Even when the relationship doesn’t get fixed. Forgiveness isn’t about them. It’s about you not being weighed down by someone else’s brokenness.
And yes, I know that’s easier said than done. I didn’t write this because I’ve mastered it. I wrote it because I needed to.
Take The Backpack Off Already
I use this metaphor in the book because it really stuck with me. Carrying unforgiveness is like wearing a backpack full of bricks. At first you think, “It’s fine. I’ve got this.” Then after a few years your posture’s crooked, your spirit’s sore, and you don’t even remember why you picked it up in the first place.
“Forgiveness is also about freedom. When you forgive, you’re not just letting the other person off the hook; you’re setting yourself free too.”
That’s what this whole section of Forgiveness And Healing is about: loosening your grip so you can open your hands to Grace.
So… Why This Book?
Because I’m not interested in writing a spiritual guilt trip. I’m interested in giving you a hand up out of the mess. If you’ve been stuck in a feedback loop of anger, bitterness, or “why should I have to forgive them?”, this is for you.
“The truth is, punishing yourself endlessly doesn’t make you more responsible or more deserving of redemption. It just makes you exhausted, bitter, and stuck.”
Forgiveness isn’t some sweet, sentimental thing. It’s rebellion against bitterness. It’s divine judo. It’s saying, “I’m not carrying this anymore.”
And if that resonates with you, then friend, this book is going to feel like exhaling after holding your breath for years.
Forgiveness And Healing
Whether you’re seeking forgiveness, offering it, or simply trying to understand what it really means, this book meets you exactly where you are. And walks with you from there.
Drawing from biblical truths, real-life stories, and a little irreverent humor (because let’s be honest, healing is hard enough), this book offers practical steps and heartfelt insights for anyone trying to let go of past hurts.