Product Description

Forgiving others is not easy. Usually it requires us to revisit past hurts and broken relationships. Given the choice, many of us would rather move on than do that.

Yet deep down we know the Bible says forgiveness is right. But what if we don’t feel like it? Why is the act of forgiveness so hard?

Biblical counselor June Hunt has over 20 years of experience in answering the hard questions people ask about forgiveness—questions such as...

• What if it hurts too much to forgive?
• What if it’s the other person’s fault?
• Am I really supposed to forgive and forget?

June’s counsel combines biblical truth with heartfelt compassion. In this book, readers will learn from Jesus’ own example of how to forgive...and will discover the tremendous healing and freedom that comes with forgiveness. A gentle and encouraging resource on a vital topic.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #182812 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

Great book about the power of forgiveness
How to Forgive When You Don't Feel Like It by June Hunt is a terrific book about the power of forgiveness, not just on the recipient, but on the giver as well. Hunt uses the analogy of a bag of rocks for the weight of unforgiveness that we carry around with us. These rocks of anger and bitterness weigh us down until it is difficult to move. She uses rocks in various metaphors throughout the rest of the book with varying effectiveness. The pressure used to make diamonds is appropriate to describe how God uses trials to make us shine. But Hunt is at her best when explaining why forgiveness is so vital. I was struggling with some issues in this area myself, and I read the book looking for answers. Hunt's most important point: forgiveness isn't a feeling. It's not something we can just do on our own. It's difficult and occasionally painful, and we need God's strength to do it, but in doing it, we will be blessed. Not only by God's forgiveness of us in return, but also in releasing his blessings to us. I took the steps that Hunt recommended and asked God to help me forgive certain people. It immediately gave me peace in my own mind when I didn't have to think about the hurt. But surprisingly (without me saying anything to the ones who hurt me), they made several gestures of goodwill. Hunt helped me to see that by holding my anger close, I was holding God's blessings away. Even if there aren't results like I experienced, forgiveness is essential for our spiritual growth. Hunt includes several anecdotes about anger and forgiveness, even exposing her own hurts for the reader. The book is written in a non-preachy style that's easy to empathize with. If you're hurting, this book can help bring balm to your soul.

A helpful illustration of forgiveness and its importance
Few doubt the importance of forgiveness and this book is full of examples of how lack of forgiveness can cause real problems - and yet it is often hard to do. June Hunt looks at forgiveness from many different angles, each one illustrated from stories of people she knows or who called into her radio station alongside some famous other examples (Corrie ten Boom, for example) and she backs up her points with Biblical examples. She notes the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation and shows the power of forgiveness to change lives. Her visual image of a 'burlap bag full of rocks' is rather over-used but the overall message is good and, although an American book, the examples and imagery work fine in the UK - not often the case with this kind of book and something to be encouraged!

HOW TO FORGIVE WHEN YOU DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT.
The title says it all when it seems impossible to forgive someone(s). Not only how to forgive with Scripture based facts, so beneficial to healing oneself, but the reasons and examples of reconciliation help to make the healing go full circle. Getting permission to forgive is important but that doesn't mean there has to be reconciliation at the same time........this could possibly come some time in the future.