Forgiveness is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. It's not in our nature to forgive an offense so easily. There is something inherent in our DNA that desires justice, to be vindicated for wrongs done to us. Too often we take matters in our own hands and make things even more difficult.
Even for those who have an easy going personality which can let offenses roll off their back, there will always be one too many or that one offense too difficult to overlook.
Bottom line, we need to be forgiven and to forgive others as Christ so demonstrated on the cross (Ephesians 4:2).
I believe the expression, "I can forgive but not forget!" comes from an unsettled heart that can't let go of the "barb" or sting of offense still lodged in the heart. If we find ourselves replaying every moment, thinking about how to strike back or say just the right words to cause pain, we may have not truly released the offense to God. It's true we may not forget some very painful things but we can chose not to live on that address in our minds.
The late Corrie Ten Boom, a survivor of the Holocaust, knew the challenges of forgiveness. One of her most quoted statement reads, “There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still.”
Not to forgive is torment. To understand the love of God who forgave us such a tremendous debt, frees us to drop the stones in our hands and simply walk away - leaving Jesus, the Just One, to do whatever He so desires.
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22)
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