This world needs hope. Many people are carrying pain they don’t talk about. They keep their pain hidden in dark places. But they aren’t alone. No one escapes the difficulties of life.

But there is hope. Forgiveness has power. If you are holding on to something that needs to be forgiven, it’s important to remember that forgiveness takes time. You can’t force it. But I encourage you to keep the door to forgiveness cracked just a tiny bit. When the time arrives and you are ready to forgive, push the door open. Let the light in. The light will crush the darkness in our lives.

We don’t want to forgive. And why should we? The offenders don’t deserve it! But that’s the curious thing about forgiveness. Forgiveness is for you, not the other person. By forgiving the person who harmed you, you are releasing a weight you are carrying. At the same time, you aren’t letting the one who hurt you off the hook. You are letting go of any potential power the offense has over your life.

Forgiveness is powerful. You might have to face some darkness to get through it, but you will get there. Light has power over darkness, every time…