For the longest time, I believed forgiveness was something I gave to other people — something they had to earn. I didn’t realize that holding on to anger was quietly stealing from me, piece by piece.
There was someone I thought I had “moved on” from, but every time their name came up, I felt that familiar sting. My heart would race, my mind would replay every painful word, and I’d tell myself, “I’m over it.” But deep down, I wasn’t.
Then I came across Joyce Meyer’s book, Do Yourself a Favor, Forgive, and something shifted. The title alone stopped me. What if forgiveness wasn’t for them at all — what if it was a gift I was meant to give myself?
When Forgiveness Feels Impossible
Joyce Meyer has a way of writing that feels like a heart-to-heart conversation. She doesn’t rush you through the pain or make forgiveness sound easy. Instead, she meets you right where you are — raw, wounded, and longing for peace.
She writes about her own painful past and the moments she had to choose forgiveness again and again. Her honesty reminded me that forgiveness isn’t a one-time act; it’s a journey — a choice you keep making until peace replaces pain.
As I reflected on her words, I realized how much my unforgiveness was costing me. It was draining my energy, clouding my mind, and hardening my heart. Holding on didn’t protect me — it felt like prison.
The Freedom of Letting Go
Reading Do Yourself a Favor, Forgive felt like someone gently unlocking a door I didn’t know I’d closed. I began to understand that forgiveness isn’t saying “what happened was okay.” It’s saying, “I choose peace over pain.”
The freedom that came with that realization reminded me of something I shared in an earlier post — Let Go of Guilt: Embrace Your Journey and Reclaim Joy.
Just like guilt, unforgiveness keeps us tied to the past. But when you release it, even just a little at a time, your heart starts to breathe again.
That’s the kind of release Joyce writes about — a peace that doesn’t come from others changing, but from you finally choosing to heal.
What You’ll Learn in This Book
Do Yourself a Favor, Forgive teaches powerful lessons that stay with you long after you close the last page:
- Forgiveness is freedom, not weakness.
- You heal faster when you stop reliving the hurt.
- Letting go invites God’s peace back into your life.
- You can forgive without forgetting — and still protect your peace.
Each chapter gently guides you closer to the version of yourself you were always meant to be — whole, healed, and free.
A Gentle Reminder
If your heart feels heavy, maybe it’s time to do yourself a favor.
Not for them, but for you.
Pick up Do Yourself a Favor, Forgive by Joyce Meyer, and allow her words to walk you toward healing and peace. You don’t have to carry that weight forever — you’re allowed to let go.
Because forgiveness isn’t the end of your story; it’s the beginning of your freedom.