The Q&R Podcast is designed to foster a posture of curiosity about ourselves and others. Today we’re stepping into a conversation that can feel really tender, especially for those who’ve been deeply hurt.

Forgiveness.

For some, forgiveness has felt like betrayal—like being asked to minimize what happened, move on too quickly, or pretend something didn’t cause real pain. Especially when the other person has not said that they are sorry.

And when churches rush people toward forgiveness without acknowledging justice, grief, or boundaries, it can do more harm than good.

Almost like we’re letting evil win.

In this episode, we’ll explore what forgiveness actually is, what it isn’t, and why it’s not the same thing as reconciliation or trust. We’ll look at how God handles harm in Scripture, how Jesus modeled forgiveness, and what it might look like to forgive without betraying yourself.

It’s a raw conversation, but an important one. Let’s get into it.

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
1:10 - How People Minimize Pain with Forgiveness
13:04 - Justice vs. Forgiveness
21:32 - Jesus Said Forgive 70x7
33:49 - Making Excuses For An Abuser
49:48 - Practical Applications of Forgiveness