Books in Review: Forgiving What You Can't Forget

I was looking forward to reading this book from the first time I heard about it. I have enjoyed all the books I’ve read by Lysa, but have found that her last several books have been personally significant. With each of her last few releases, especially Uninvited, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, and now Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, her books have proven to become more and more relevant to what I have gone through in my personal life. While each book by itself is powerful, all three books together are a powerful tool for those who have dealt with pain caused by the actions of others. The topic of forgiveness is difficult but is also incredibly freeing, if you choose to embrace it over bitterness. This is now my top resource on this topic. I cannot recommend it enough ~ Bethel

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Forgiveness is one of the hardest things Christians are called to do in the Scriptures, especially when they have been hurt deeply by the actions of others. We are well aware of the Scripture’s call to forgive, but we can’t let go of what happened to us. Relationships are destroyed, bitter words are exchanged, and the pain afterwards refuses to let us move on. It often feels like forgiving is letting our offender off the hook, so we are holding ourselves captive to our pain, all while thinking that we are holding our offenders responsible. This leads to a vicious cycle that seems like it will never end. It makes us ask the question: how can I learn to forgive what I can’t forget?
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In her book Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, Lysa Terkeurst takes her readers on a journey toward discovering how they can let go of the pain of what others have done to them and learn how to forgive. While not diminishing the pain and suffering they have been through, Lysa walks through many facets of forgiveness, bitterness, and the pain caused by conflicts with others. Instead of offering platitudes of instant solutions, she instead offers hope that with time, diligence, and support, you can make peace with the past and live life again. Speaking with honesty and vulnerability from the pain of her husband having an affair, Lysa shares her personal journey of her husband having an affair, sharing it in a way that makes it relatable, regardless of what you may need to forgive. If you have ever struggled with forgiveness, this is a book you need to read. Get your copy today!

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Teen Rating. Even with the discussion of many struggles and issues relevant to adults (especially Lysa’s husband affair and their period of separation), I still think that a mature teen could get a lot out of this book. I recommend it for those 15 or older

Personal Rating. Another book that I cannot recommend enough

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Check out my reviews of some of Lysa's other books:
Uninvited
It's Not Supposed to Be This Way

To learn more about how I learned to forgive in the middle of difficult circumstances,
click here