Choosing to forgive can bring divine light into a world full of anger, deceit, and grudges.
Navigating new relationships as a young adult inevitably brings moments of deep hurt. And at any time of life, the betrayed confidence, broken friendships, or heavy weight of our own mistakes can easily bring darkness into our daily lives. When we hold onto grudges or refuse to let go of past failures, we choose to walk in spiritual darkness.
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In his BYU devotional, “The Light of Forgiving,” Brother Steven M. Sandberg illustrates that forgiveness is the exact catalyst needed to shatter that darkness and let the Savior’s presence back in. He notes that when we choose to forgive, the Savior offers us “the opportunity to be co-healers and to extend His light to those around us.” When we follow Christ’s perfect example, we permit his light to overpower the darkness that prevents us from progressing.
I experienced firsthand how heavy that darkness can feel. When a close friend spread painful lies about me, I was left frustrated and deeply hurt. I couldn’t make sense of how someone so close to me could be so cruel. Almost immediately, I thought of the Savior’s example and chose to forgive them. I’m still navigating those feelings of betrayal, but as I have focused on Christ, I have felt light come into my life. I’m grateful this hardship brought me closer to him and showed me the peace that comes from releasing negative emotions.
We see a similar kind of emotional exhaustion in the experience of Zeezrom in the Book of Mormon. When he was trapped in the guilt of his past mistakes, he became physically sick and bedridden, leaving his mind “exceedingly sore” (Alma 15:3). He was stuck in a really dark place until he turned to the Savior. The moment he accepted Christ’s healing, that heavy anxiety was lightened by a calming peace, and the scriptures say he “leaped upon his feet” (Alma 15:11).
Forgiveness is a gradual process of seeking Christ’s light. It does not mean condoning injustice or remaining in untrustworthy relationships; it means letting him bring peace to a clouded mind. We may harbor resentment or struggle to move past hurt feelings at times. But with Christ, that can change. Make the conscious choice today to let it go. When we turn our burdens over to Christ, his healing light lets us reclaim our peace.
To discover the full message and explore additional insights on this topic, read and watch Steven M. Sandberg’s BYU devotional, “The Light of Forgiving.”
Source: BYU Speeches
—Natalie Fernsten, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY ROSS SNEDDON
For more on how forgiveness can bring light to us, read Sam Niven’s Latter-day Saint Insights article “Our Guiding Mistakes.”
Also, read “Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence” by Elder Jörg Klebingat to learn why forgiveness is so incredibly important.