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How to Forgive When It Feels Impossible
On the cross Jesus prayed these dramatic Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. He set a powerful example for us, demonstrating that forgiveness is possible even in the face of the worst that human beings can do to one another; and it frees us from hurtful and damaging human relationships. Forgiveness is the key to restoring our relationship with God, and it is the beginning of our lifetime adventure with Him.This liberating teaching from Ellel Ministries founder Peter Horrobin explores the most powerful prayer on earth--the prayer of forgiveness, even toward those who don't seem to deserve it. As we learn to set forgiveness as a foundation stone of our faith, we can rise above the bondage of bitterness. Here you will find words of healing for your past and the ability to walk through new doors of freedom in your future.
125 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 11, 2025
Inspiring and challenging. Fantastic read.
February 18, 2021
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Chosen Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
When one is reading a book by an author who is in charge of some sort of organization, it can be expected that the author will attempt to promote the agenda of that organization. Admittedly, this reader at least does not find the aims of the organization in question to be problematic. Forgiveness is an important mater and it is an issue whose absence causes a lot of problems. It is instructive in reading this book to see exactly where the author feels that forgiveness is most important by what is mentioned the most often. As might be imagined, certain areas are focused on again and again. There are comments about personal traumas suffered because of the horrors of war, such as people who survived genocide in Rwanda. There are lots of references to the traumas of sexual abuse, as one might expect as being a particularly tough sin for many people to forgive. It is also telling just how often the author comments on the sins of parents, and the need to forgive oneself as well, in the overall context of forgiveness in areas where our sins and errors are mixed with those of other people.
This book is a short volume of about 100 pages and it is divided into twelve chapters. After a short preface the book begins with a discussion of forgiveness as the master key to the house of one's life (1). After this there is a claim that the prayer to forgive others is the most powerful prayer on earth (2). This is followed by a discussion of a divine "law" of blessing that states those who forgive others will automatically receive certain blessings (3). The author then talks about the obstacle that people do not deserve forgiveness (4) as well as how it is vitally important to forgive our parents for everything (5). This is followed by a discussion of those who have stolen part of our lives, including time and money (6) as well as the need for us to forgive ourselves (7). After this the author discusses how often we should forgive (8) as well as our need to apologize to God for blaming Him for the problems of life (9). This is followed by eight steps to using forgiveness as "God's miracle key" according to the author (10), followed by a chapter of final thoughts (11) and personal stories of healing through forgiveness (12).
One of the areas of this book that I found most puzzling was the emphasis on forgiving others for personal benefit. While I believe that there are personal benefits to forgiving others, and this book does a good job at talking about the spiritual benefits of forgiveness in realizing that God is merciful to us and so we ought to be merciful to others, at least in part, this book focuses far more on the expectation of healing as a result of forgiveness. And while I think that this is certainly possible, I do not think it can be taken for granted that there will be miraculous healing in one's life simply because one has cultivated a sense of forgiveness towards others, although we can expect that those burdens that a person deals with because of being afflicted with a spirit of vindictiveness and resentment will be ridden when one chooses to forgive and let go of one's hurt and resentment and give it over to God. I would have liked to have seen the author focus more on the problem of hypocrisy when one deals with the relationship of forgiveness and justice, but the author's approach is one that does not enter into the core asymmetry that exists when people praise God's mercy to them but are pitiless and merciless in dealing with other people. It would appear as if the author was more interested in presenting a good cop argument for forgiveness when I was more interested in a bad cop approach. That is a personal preference, though, and I think this book will be encouraging to many people, even if I am concerned that it may give people false expectations of miraculous results.
When one is reading a book by an author who is in charge of some sort of organization, it can be expected that the author will attempt to promote the agenda of that organization. Admittedly, this reader at least does not find the aims of the organization in question to be problematic. Forgiveness is an important mater and it is an issue whose absence causes a lot of problems. It is instructive in reading this book to see exactly where the author feels that forgiveness is most important by what is mentioned the most often. As might be imagined, certain areas are focused on again and again. There are comments about personal traumas suffered because of the horrors of war, such as people who survived genocide in Rwanda. There are lots of references to the traumas of sexual abuse, as one might expect as being a particularly tough sin for many people to forgive. It is also telling just how often the author comments on the sins of parents, and the need to forgive oneself as well, in the overall context of forgiveness in areas where our sins and errors are mixed with those of other people.
This book is a short volume of about 100 pages and it is divided into twelve chapters. After a short preface the book begins with a discussion of forgiveness as the master key to the house of one's life (1). After this there is a claim that the prayer to forgive others is the most powerful prayer on earth (2). This is followed by a discussion of a divine "law" of blessing that states those who forgive others will automatically receive certain blessings (3). The author then talks about the obstacle that people do not deserve forgiveness (4) as well as how it is vitally important to forgive our parents for everything (5). This is followed by a discussion of those who have stolen part of our lives, including time and money (6) as well as the need for us to forgive ourselves (7). After this the author discusses how often we should forgive (8) as well as our need to apologize to God for blaming Him for the problems of life (9). This is followed by eight steps to using forgiveness as "God's miracle key" according to the author (10), followed by a chapter of final thoughts (11) and personal stories of healing through forgiveness (12).
One of the areas of this book that I found most puzzling was the emphasis on forgiving others for personal benefit. While I believe that there are personal benefits to forgiving others, and this book does a good job at talking about the spiritual benefits of forgiveness in realizing that God is merciful to us and so we ought to be merciful to others, at least in part, this book focuses far more on the expectation of healing as a result of forgiveness. And while I think that this is certainly possible, I do not think it can be taken for granted that there will be miraculous healing in one's life simply because one has cultivated a sense of forgiveness towards others, although we can expect that those burdens that a person deals with because of being afflicted with a spirit of vindictiveness and resentment will be ridden when one chooses to forgive and let go of one's hurt and resentment and give it over to God. I would have liked to have seen the author focus more on the problem of hypocrisy when one deals with the relationship of forgiveness and justice, but the author's approach is one that does not enter into the core asymmetry that exists when people praise God's mercy to them but are pitiless and merciless in dealing with other people. It would appear as if the author was more interested in presenting a good cop argument for forgiveness when I was more interested in a bad cop approach. That is a personal preference, though, and I think this book will be encouraging to many people, even if I am concerned that it may give people false expectations of miraculous results.
January 13, 2021
In How to Forgive When It Feels Impossible, Peter Horrobin explored the topic of forgiveness and how we can choose to forgive ourselves for our mistakes and to forgive others for their shortcomings. He begins the book by explaining that many of us have locks on our hearts and we block others from entering our homes and hearts. Many of us are dealing with painful events and we don’t know how to do deal with unresolved unforgiveness. He described to readers that there is a better way and there is a master key that Jesus gave us. The master key is prayer and most importantly the prayer of, “father forgive them because they don’t know, what it is that they are doing”. Jesus prayed this over the people who crucified him and drove nails into his skin. Jesus taught us how to forgive others who harm us and curse us. Peter revealed how this act of prayer can transform our relationship with Christ and how the Holy Spirit power can be released into our lives. He discovered the four main areas: reputation, sexuality, time, and health where people can be robbed of and the only thing we can do is learn to heal from the pain. In the book, he shared the eight steps to gain freedom and to forgive and heal from the pain and hurt that you are feeling inside.
I would recommend this life changing book to anyone who needs to learn how to forgive and they are ready to seek true freedom. I liked how real and truthful Peter was in explaining the power of forgiveness and the keys that we can chose to unlock in our lives by following Jesus’ example and choosing to forgive. I liked how he included a whole chapter of personal stories about people who found healing in forgiving either themselves or someone else. The stories included being molested, abused, accidents that happened to them, parent conflicts, betrayed, robbed, and much more. One of the forgiveness stories, I was surprised to read about was the one about Jim. When Jim was a little boy, his father told him to jump in his arms off the roof. His father didn’t try and catch him and he just stepped aside and let him hit the concrete. Thankfully, Jim didn’t died but his chest was crushed and he had trouble breathing for years because of that event. After he chose to forgive his dad, he was healed and the asthma and the side effects of that event are completely gone now. This story was heartbreaking to read that a dad would purposely let harm come to his son. I enjoyed how Peter walked readers on eight steps to get freedom from the pain of the past and forgiving when it seems impossible to do so.
"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/ Chosen for my honest review.”
I would recommend this life changing book to anyone who needs to learn how to forgive and they are ready to seek true freedom. I liked how real and truthful Peter was in explaining the power of forgiveness and the keys that we can chose to unlock in our lives by following Jesus’ example and choosing to forgive. I liked how he included a whole chapter of personal stories about people who found healing in forgiving either themselves or someone else. The stories included being molested, abused, accidents that happened to them, parent conflicts, betrayed, robbed, and much more. One of the forgiveness stories, I was surprised to read about was the one about Jim. When Jim was a little boy, his father told him to jump in his arms off the roof. His father didn’t try and catch him and he just stepped aside and let him hit the concrete. Thankfully, Jim didn’t died but his chest was crushed and he had trouble breathing for years because of that event. After he chose to forgive his dad, he was healed and the asthma and the side effects of that event are completely gone now. This story was heartbreaking to read that a dad would purposely let harm come to his son. I enjoyed how Peter walked readers on eight steps to get freedom from the pain of the past and forgiving when it seems impossible to do so.
"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/ Chosen for my honest review.”
December 26, 2020
God has given us guidelines for abundant living. Horrobin reminds us that one of those guidelines is forgiving others. We may have the impression that forgiving others is not so important but Horrobin sets us straight. Jesus said we are to forgive others if we are to expect forgiveness from God. Unforgiveness harms us, the bitterness a poison. Forgiveness sets us free.
Perhaps we know we should forgive others but face the obstacle of such forgiveness seeming to be impossible. Horrobin helps us work through the issues, like when we feel others do not deserve the forgiveness. He reminds us that forgiveness is an act of love, not justice. (34) He gives a practical strategy with eight steps to help us work through forgiveness. He also has good teaching on specific areas of forgiveness, such as for sexual abuse or forgiving our parents.
My favorite insight from Horrobin is about trust. He distinguishes forgiveness from trust. “A forgiven person may still be an untrustworthy person.” (71) Forgiving a person does not mean we automatically trust that person again. Trust must be earned.
This is a small book but it contains a powerful message. It is full of encouragement to forgive, contains good strategy to work through the process of forgiveness, and contains many inspiring stories of people set free through their forgiving others.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Perhaps we know we should forgive others but face the obstacle of such forgiveness seeming to be impossible. Horrobin helps us work through the issues, like when we feel others do not deserve the forgiveness. He reminds us that forgiveness is an act of love, not justice. (34) He gives a practical strategy with eight steps to help us work through forgiveness. He also has good teaching on specific areas of forgiveness, such as for sexual abuse or forgiving our parents.
My favorite insight from Horrobin is about trust. He distinguishes forgiveness from trust. “A forgiven person may still be an untrustworthy person.” (71) Forgiving a person does not mean we automatically trust that person again. Trust must be earned.
This is a small book but it contains a powerful message. It is full of encouragement to forgive, contains good strategy to work through the process of forgiveness, and contains many inspiring stories of people set free through their forgiving others.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
January 12, 2021
Author Peter Horrobin is the founder and director of Ellel Ministries, an international, non-denominational, Christian organization. His book "How to Forgive When It Feels Impossible" is a slim little volume which offers a simple, yet powerful, message: "Forgiveness is the master key which opens the door of hope and healing". The author details his own personal experience with forgiveness, which led to the founding of Ellel Ministries. He also includes true stories of others whose faith and lives were transformed by forgiveness. Peter Horrobin cites the Eight Steps to Freedom as: "Make a Decision"; "Make a List"; "Start to Forgive:' "Ask God to Set You Free"; "Say You Are Sorry For Blaming God"; "Pray the Most Powerful Prayer on Earth"; "Pray That Jesus Will Forgive Them"; and "Expect Your Resurrection Morning". Peter Horrobin began Ellel Ministries in 1986, and today, along with his wife Fiona, he continues to spread his message of the power of forgiveness across the globe.
Book Copy Gratis Chosen Books
Book Copy Gratis Chosen Books
February 20, 2021
If you are struggling with forgiveness, whether it is giving forgiveness or receiving it then this is a good start to understand how freeing forgiveness can be for you. The book with the same title as this blog post is a quick read with only twelve chapters and one hundred twenty-six pages but jam-packed with some good morsels of wisdom. My favorite chapter is chapter ten where the author shares ten keys to follow to be free from the bondage of unforgiveness along with Bible verses.
If you are looking for your next Bible study or book club study topic you should consider using this book for your next meeting! I give this book 4 stars out of 5.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review by Chosen Publishing.
If you are looking for your next Bible study or book club study topic you should consider using this book for your next meeting! I give this book 4 stars out of 5.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review by Chosen Publishing.
February 20, 2021
If you are struggling with forgiveness, whether it is giving forgiveness or receiving it then this is a good start to understand how freeing forgiveness can be for you. The book with the same title as this blog post is a quick read with only twelve chapters and one hundred twenty-six pages but jam-packed with some good morsels of wisdom. My favorite chapter is chapter ten where the author shares ten keys to follow to be free from the bondage of unforgiveness along with Bible verses.
If you are looking for your next Bible study or book club study topic you should consider using this book for your next meeting! I give this book 4 stars out of 5.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review by Chosen Publishing.
If you are looking for your next Bible study or book club study topic you should consider using this book for your next meeting! I give this book 4 stars out of 5.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review by Chosen Publishing.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews