Episode 8: Forgiven | Releasing What Hurt You and Walking in Freedom

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Planted in Purpose, we walk through the truth about forgiveness—not just as a concept, but as a command, a process, and a pathway to freedom.

Forgiveness is not always easy, especially when the hurt runs deep. Whether it stems from family, friendships, marriage, the workplace, business, or even experiences within the church, many of us carry things we were never meant to hold onto. Over time, that weight can quietly shape our thoughts, our relationships, and even our spiritual walk.

But Scripture calls us higher.

In this episode, we explore what the Bible truly says about forgiveness, why we are called to forgive, what unforgiveness does to the soul, and how releasing others is directly connected to our own healing and freedom in Christ.

Through foundational scriptures, spiritual insight, and personal reflection, you’ll be guided through:

 • What forgiveness is, and what it is not
 • Why forgiveness is not optional for believers
 • The spiritual and emotional impact of unforgiveness
 • How forgiveness affects your relationship with God
 • The difference between forgiveness and reconciliation
 • How to move forward with wisdom and the leading of the Holy Spirit

This episode also includes a guided reflection moment and a powerful prayer for forgiveness and healing, as well as an invitation for those who desire to begin or renew their relationship with Christ.

If you’ve been carrying hurt—whether visible or buried—this is your moment to release it.

You don’t have to hold onto what God is calling you to let go of.  Forgiveness is not about excusing what happened… It’s about choosing freedom over bondage.

Key Scriptures Referenced

  Ephesians 4:31–32
 Colossians 3:13
 Matthew 6:14–15
 Matthew 18:21–35
 Hebrews 12:14–15
 Luke 23:34
 Mark 11:25
 Romans 12:17–19
 1 Corinthians 13:5
 Galatians 5:1

Transcript

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There are some things that we carry for years without even realizing it. Not because we want to, but because we never learned how to release them. And one of those things is unforgiveness. Unforgiveness doesn't always look like anger. Sometimes it looks like distance. Sometimes it looks like silence. And sometimes it looks like saying, I'm over it. While something deep in your heart is still holding on. Welcome to Planted in Purpose, a kingdom-building podcast. I'm your host, Sherry Neely. This podcast is rooted in truth, grounded in the Word of God, based on Psalm chapter 1, verse 3, and Ephesians chapter 2, verse 10, and help you walk fully in the purpose He has for your life. And today we're talking about forgiveness, not just what it is, but why it matters and what happens when we don't release what we're carrying. Before we go any further, we have to understand something foundational. Forgiveness starts with God. God has always existed in perfect peace. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, completely whole, completely unified, completely loving. And from the very beginning, his desire has always been relationship, not distance, not separation. But when sin entered, it broke that relationship. And God did not walk away, he made a way to bring us back. And that way was Jesus. Because forgiveness is not free in the sense that it costs nothing. It is free to us, but it cost him everything. At the cross, Jesus took on sin. He lived a perfect life and died an innocent death and rose again. And in that moment, he broke the cycle, the cycle of sin, the cycle of hurt, the cycle of separation at the cross. God did not ignore sin. He dealt with it. And because of that, we are forgiven. According to Ephesians chapter 4, verse 32, we are to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. We don't forgive because people deserve it. We forgive because we were forgiven. Colossians chapter 3, verse 13 says, bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you. So you also must forgive. Not when you feel ready, not when they apologize, but because we belong to Him. Forgiveness is not saying what happened did not hurt because it did. It's not pretending it did not matter because it mattered. And it is not forgetting because some things leave a mark, but forgiveness is releasing it to God. It is saying, God, I give this to you. I am not going to carry this anymore. This hurt will not have a home in my heart anymore. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6, verses 14 through 15, for if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. If we don't forgive, it affects our relationship with God. Not because he stops loving us, but because our hearts close. In Matthew chapter 18, verses 21 through 35, Jesus shares the parable of the unforgiving servant. The unforgiving servant was forgiven, but refused to forgive, and he was handed over to torment. And that torment often looks like what's happening inside of us. Stress, heaviness, emotional exhaustion, and even sickness. Bitterness is a root, and roots grow. Even when you can't see them, unforgiveness doesn't just sit in your heart. It grows and over time it begins to affect everything. How you think, how you trust, how you love, and even how you hear God. Unforgiveness shows up in different areas. In family, where something happened years ago, but it still affects how you respond today, in friendships where trust was broken, and now you keep people at a distance, in relationships where things were said or done, and something in your heart still remembers, in work where you were overlooked or mistreated, and now you carry that into every new opportunity in business where people didn't show up, and now you struggle to trust anyone. And then there's the church. When you're hurt in the church, it hits differently because it came from a place that was supposed to be safe. You were serving, you were committed, you were showing up, and you got hurt. And sometimes that hurt gets attached to God. But I need you to hear this: people can fail you, but God never will. Don't disconnect from God because of what people did, because sometimes we attach our hurt to God when it was never Him who hurt us, and forgiveness helps us separate the two. What happened to you mattered, it hurt, and God sees it, but we cannot allow that hurt to take root in our hearts. And I want to share something personally because this is not just something I teach, it's something I've lived. There was a time when I was being mistreated in a very real way, and people expected me to react. They expected me to respond differently, but I made a decision. I chose to forgive, not because it was easy, not because it didn't hurt, but because I knew I could not carry that. Because forgiveness does not always mean access. And I realized I could carry it or I could release it. And I chose to release it. Forgiveness does not always mean reconnection. In Romans chapter 12, verse 18, Paul wrote, If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. That means it's not always possible. The words of wisdom from Proverbs chapter 4, verse 23 is, keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Guard your heart. You can forgive and still be wise and still set boundaries after forgiveness. We don't move in emotion, we move in discernment, we pray, we listen, we follow the Holy Spirit. Take a moment and ask, Holy Spirit, what am I still holding on to? Who comes to mind? What situation? Don't push it away. That's where healing begins. As you were sitting with that, for some of you, this isn't just about forgiving someone else, it's about your own relationship with God. Maybe you've been carrying hurt, distance, or even confusion. And today, God is not just calling you to release something, he's calling you back to Him. So before we go any further, I want to give you an opportunity. If you've never given your life to Christ, or if you feel like you've drifted, this is your moment. Repeat after me, Lord Jesus, I come to you just as I am. I believe you died for me and rose again. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart. Be my Lord and Savior. I give my life to you in Jesus' name. Amen. If you just prayed that prayer, welcome. This is where everything begins. And now from that place of being forgiven, we're going to do something powerful. We're going to release what you've been carrying. Heavenly Father, we come before you right now and we honor you. We thank you for who you are, for your mercy, for your grace, for your love that never fails. Father, you are holy, you are righteous, and there is none like you. Lord, we surrender this moment to you. Have your way in our hearts. Let your will be done. Not our will, but yours. Move how you want to move. Speak how you want to speak. Father, we acknowledge that we need you. We need your strength. We need your grace. We need your help in areas where we feel weak. Some of us have been carrying things that we were never meant to carry. And today we bring it to you. We ask that you forgive us. Forgive us for the times we've held onto offense, for the times we have allowed bitterness to take root, for the moments where we chose hurt instead of healing. Wash us, cleanse us, renew our hearts. And Father, as you forgive us, we choose to forgive. Not because it's easy, but because you have called us to it. Right now, we forgive. We forgive those who hurt us. We forgive those who disappointed us. We forgive those who walked away. Those who spoke against us, those who left wounds we didn't deserve. We release them. We let go of the offense. We let go of the anger. We let go of the bitterness. We cancel the debt. They don't owe us anything anymore. We place them into your hands and we trust you with what we cannot fix. Holy Spirit, search our hearts. If there is anything hidden, anything we've buried, anything we've ignored, bring it to the surface now, not to shame us, but to free us. Lord, remove every root of bitterness, uproot every place where unforgiveness has taken hold. Heal every wounded place. Restore what was broken, and fill every empty space with your peace. God, teach us how to move forward. Lead us by your spirit. Give us discernment in our relationships. Show us what to restore and where to set boundaries. Help us to walk in wisdom and not just emotion. Protect our hearts, guard our minds, keep us in your will, and do not let us fall back into cycles that you have already called us out of. Father, we receive your love, we receive your forgiveness, and we choose to walk in freedom. Thank you that we are no longer bound. Thank you that we are no longer carrying what you never intended for us to carry. Thank you that freedom is happening right now in the lives of so many women. Thank you that freedom is happening right now in hearts, in minds, in souls. We give you all the glory, all the honor, and all the praise in Jesus' name. Amen. Sister, you don't have to carry it anymore. Forgiveness is choosing not to let what happened to you continue to live in you. You chose freedom today. If this episode blessed you, share it with someone who needs it because someone you know may be holding on to something they were never meant to carry. You've been listening to Plant It in Purpose, a kingdom building podcast with Sherry Neely. Until next time, stay rooted in God, say plant it in purpose, and trust the season he has you in the