How do you forgive when what happened still hurts – or when the person who caused it never made it right?
In this message, we face one of the hardest questions followers of Jesus ever wrestle with – forgiveness. It’s not just about saying the words or “moving on.” It’s about what happens when grace collides with justice, when mercy wrestles with memory, and when we’re left holding the pain of something that feels unfinished. So how do we move forward when the wound still aches? And what does it look like to let go without pretending it didn’t matter?
As part of our fall series Am I the Only One?, this week’s message, Am I the Only One Who Can’t Let It Go?, explores the fight within forgiveness – that struggle between wanting to release the hurt and wanting to see justice done. Through Scripture and real honesty, we’ll see how Jesus meets us right in that tension – not on the other side of healing, but in the middle of it – and how His presence changes what forgiveness can look like in our lives.
If you missed the live service or want to reflect further, you can watch the full message above anytime after. We’ve also included discussion questions to dig deeper into the message and a handout with fill-ins to guide your reflection. You can find the handout by clicking the “Download” button above. Whether you watch this on your own or share it with your small group, we hope this message encourages you.
Discussion Questions
- What makes forgiveness so difficult when you know it’s the right thing to do?
- How can someone tell the difference between truly forgiving and just avoiding the subject?
- Why do you think we sometimes confuse numbness or distance with healing?
- In what ways have you seen pain and the longing for fairness get tangled together in your own life?
- How does the story of the woman caught in adultery challenge the way we think about justice and mercy?
- What does it mean to you that Jesus doesn’t meet us on the other side of healing but in the middle of it?
- Why do we sometimes keep trying to carry guilt that Jesus already paid for?
- How do you personally wrestle with the tension between God’s mercy and your desire to see justice?
- What helps you trust that God’s justice is still working even when you can’t see it?
- How does letting go of the gavel change your understanding of what forgiveness really is?
