Nancy Leigh DeMoss: The first step in the process of forgiveness is to get honest about how you’ve been wronged.

“It was a long time ago.”

“Forgive and forget, right?”

“I just don’t have anything to do with them anymore.”

“It really wasn’t that big of a deal. I just try to forget about it.”

Nancy: Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending the offense never happened—that’s not honest. It’s denial.

True forgiveness is about facing reality and then dealing with it God’s way. He doesn’t want you to run away from your pain. He wants you to be honest about the hurt and bring it to Him.

Have you gotten honest about the way others have treated you? I’d encourage you to make a list of anyone who you’ve never forgiven for the way they’ve wronged you. Not so you can hold a grudge. Not so you can hold it over them. But so you can choose forgiveness.

With Seeking Him, I’m Nancy Leigh DeMoss.