Why Forgiveness Is the Hardest, and Most Powerful, Thing You’ll Ever Do

Forgiveness sounds beautiful until you have someone to forgive. It’s one of the most difficult commands in Scripture, yet one of the most freeing acts a believer can experience. At Mountain Valley Chapel in Gold Bar, Washington, we believe forgiveness isn’t optional, it's essential. It’s the bridge between brokenness and healing, the place where mercy meets pain, and where the grace we’ve received from God is released toward others.

Jesus never minimized how painful forgiveness can be. He knows betrayal, injustice, and heartbreak better than anyone. Yet from the cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them.” Forgiveness doesn’t excuse what happened, it releases what’s holding you. It’s not about pretending it didn’t hurt; it’s about refusing to let bitterness take root. Holding on to offense may feel justified, but it keeps your heart in chains. Forgiveness, on the other hand, opens the door for peace to return.

Forgiveness is hard because it feels unfair. But the gospel itself is unfair. God forgave us when we didn’t deserve it. That’s the power of grace. When we forgive, we reflect the heart of Christ. We show the world what redemption really looks like. True forgiveness doesn’t depend on an apology or reconciliation; it’s a choice to let God be the judge and healer.

At Mountain Valley Chapel, we’ve seen how forgiveness changes lives. Marriages have been restored, families reconciled, and hearts set free. Forgiveness doesn’t erase the past, but it allows God to rewrite the story. When you forgive, you release the pain into His hands and make room for His presence to heal what was broken.

If you’re struggling to forgive someone or even yourself remember this: God never asks you to do it alone. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead gives you the strength to release what’s been weighing you down. Forgiveness may be the hardest thing you’ll ever do, but it will also be the most powerful.

If you’re looking for a church near Gold Bar, Sultan, or Index where you can find healing, grow in faith, and experience God’s grace firsthand, we invite you to join us at Mountain Valley Chapel. You don’t have to carry the hurt any longer. Freedom begins with forgiveness.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)