Rest That Begins With Forgiveness

Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

Rest can feel impossible when your heart is carrying unresolved hurt. Even when life slows down, the mind continues working. Old conversations replay. Wounds resurface when you least expect them. The body may pause, but the soul stays alert.

Unforgiveness keeps us in that state. It quietly demands our attention, asking us to relive what happened so we can protect ourselves from being hurt again. Over time, this vigilance becomes exhausting.

Forgiveness is often misunderstood as minimizing pain or pretending something did not matter. In reality, forgiveness begins by acknowledging how deeply something hurt. It allows us to name the weight we have been carrying.

Choosing forgiveness does not mean immediate relief. It is often a gradual release. A decision made repeatedly when resentment tries to reclaim space. Each small choice loosens the grip of the past.

God does not rush us toward forgiveness. He invites us gently. He understands how heavy the burden feels. Jesus’ invitation to rest is not conditional on having everything resolved. It is an offer to bring our weariness to Him.

As we forgive, rest slowly becomes possible. The heart softens. The constant guarding eases. Peace begins to enter the places once occupied by tension.

Forgiveness does not change what happened, but it changes how much power it holds over us. When we release resentment, we make room for rest that reaches deeper than sleep.

God desires rest for your whole being. Forgiveness is one of the ways He leads us there.

Alycia Neighbours