The author emphasizes that understanding the pain of others can transform feelings of anger and resentment into compassion, facilitating forgiveness. She illustrates this by reflecting on the hurt caused by others and realizing that their actions may stem from their unresolved pain. She thoughtfully notes, 'The hurt they caused was most likely from hurt they carried...It doesn’t justify their actions, but it does help me have compassion for the hurt they have surely suffered.' This insight demonstrates that compassion can be a powerful tool in breaking the cycle of pain and fostering healing. | Lysa TerKeurst | Forgiving What You Can't Forget

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The Role of Compassion in Forgiveness

The author emphasizes that understanding the pain of others can transform feelings of anger and resentment into compassion, facilitating forgiveness. She illustrates this by reflecting on the hurt caused by others and realizing that their actions may stem from their unresolved pain. She thoughtfully notes, 'The hurt they caused was most likely from hurt they carried...It doesn’t justify their actions, but it does help me have compassion for the hurt they have surely suffered.' This insight demonstrates that compassion can be a powerful tool in breaking the cycle of pain and fostering healing.

-- Lysa TerKeurst