Mission Impossible: When Forgiveness Feels Out of Reach

Yesterday we were watching Mission Impossible II. You could call it “Throwback Sunday,” since the movie came out in 2000. Twenty-five years later, I barely remembered the plot—so in a way, it felt like watching it for the very first time.

One scene really caught my attention. Ethan Hunt tells Mission Commander Swanbeck (played by Anthony Hopkins) that the mission will be difficult, but Swanbeck responds:

“Good. I didn’t give you Mission Difficult. I gave you Mission Impossible. So you should be okay.”

That line stuck with me.

Forgiveness: More Than “Mission Difficult”

As I walk through my own journey of forgiveness, I realized how much that line applies. 

Forgiveness isn’t just difficult—it can often feel impossible. Triggers flood my mind, and suddenly I’m drowning in painful memories. Honestly, I have a glimpse of understanding why so many people turn to addictions to numb the ache. The heart wrenches, the chest tightens, and even breathing feels hard. Yet no numbing mechanism ever removes the pain—it only dulls it for a moment. The wound remains. That’s why we must confront it. Like a bison that doesn’t flee from the storm but charges straight into the blizzard to get through it faster, we, too, must face our pain head-on. Avoiding it only prolongs our suffering.

When we’ve been wounded, we’re both fragile and vulnerable. At the same time, we can grow hardened and bitter. That bitterness is our way of protecting ourselves from future pain, but it secretly eats away at us.

Unforgiveness is messy. It’s painful. It’s costly. It hurts twice—first when the wound is inflicted, and again every time we replay what someone did to us.

But here’s the truth: there is only One who can truly heal and restore a broken heart.

Two Options: Chains or Freedom

When it comes to forgiveness, we have two choices:

• Forgive, even though it hurts.

• Or live the rest of our lives chained to anger, depression, and bitterness—forever tied to the memory of what someone did.

The choice is ours.

Sometimes God allows triggers—moments that reopen old wounds—not to torture us, but to reveal what still needs healing. If we don’t deal with those wounds, we risk poisoning our hearts over and over again.

Peeling the Onion

For me, forgiveness has been like peeling an onion—one layer at a time. And I’ve had to bring those layers to the only One who fully understands.

Jesus knows what it feels like to be wounded, betrayed, mocked, and rejected. Yet He chose forgiveness every single time:

• He forgave the religious leaders who ridiculed Him and plotted His death (maybe people from church have wounded you).

• He forgave His closest friend who denied Him out of fear.

• He forgave the thief who mocked Him while He was hanging on the cross.

• He forgave those who drove the nails into His hands and feet.

• And He forgave me for all my sins.

Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus shows us a clear pattern of forgiveness:

1. He meets us in our brokenness.

2. He lifts our shame and extends mercy.

3. He calls us into transformation and new life.

The Hard Truth About Ourselves

Here’s the first step: admitting we’re not “good people.” That’s hard to accept because we compare ourselves with others and think, “Well, at least I’m not as bad as them”

and our definition of "good" can be subjective. But if we’re honest, we all struggle with things like gossip, anger, unforgiveness, dishonesty, selfishness, jealousy, or immorality. Some of these would land us in jail by human standards. And by God’s holy standard, none of it belongs in us.

Yet in His perfection, God chose to forgive. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, our debt of sin is paid. And because we’ve been forgiven, we now have the power—through Him—to forgive others.

Mission Possible

Beloved, forgiveness isn’t easy. I know. It feels like Mission Difficult.

But with Jesus, forgiveness becomes Mission Possible.

If you want to explore this more, let’s talk. Read Luke 8:36-48

🌱 Call to Action: Start Pulling Out the Weeds

Forgiveness is like tending a garden. To make room for growth, you need to pull out the weeds. It may be painful, but it’s necessary.

Here’s how to begin:

1. It takes one to forgive. Will that be you beloved?

2. Identify when unforgiveness took root. Trace it back to the moment or season.

3. Name everything that was done to you. Be specific, acknowledge you were wounded-You have permission to hurt. Write down the people who hurt you.

4. Name all the feelings you felt. Let me help you with a list (Circle all that apply and/or add your own) Abandoned, accused, alone, anxious, apathetic, ashamed, attacked, bad, belittled, bitter, blamed, cheap. Controlled, deceived, defeated, defenseless, defrauded, degraded, destroyed, devalued, dirty, disgusted, disrespected, don’t belong, dominated, embarrassed, empty, exposed, failure, fearful, foolish, frustrated, hated, hurt, inadequate, indecent, inferior, insecure, insensitive to my needs, insignificant, lied to, lonely, manipulated, mindless, misunderstood, neglected, not cherished, overwhelmed, pressured to perform, rejected, repulsed, revenge, ruined, sad, scared, secluded, stressed, suffocated, suicidal, taken advantage of, torn apart, trapped, trash, ugly, unaccepted,

   unclean, unfit, unfairly treated, unlovable, unloved, unprotected, unsafe, unsympathetic, unwanted, wasted, wicked, worthless,  wounded, wrongly judged, violated, vulnerable. 

5.  You’ll begin to see how much of your current behavior, walls, and actions come from past pain or trauma.

6. Imagine yourself chained to that pain. Then picture what it would feel like to be free—letting that person go.

   
   

And remember forgiveness does not mean condoning the act, excusing the person, or restoring the relationship. Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation. Forgiveness is a gift for you. It’s about releasing them and setting yourself free.

God is righteous. Justice belongs to Him, not us.

You may also need to seek professional counseling or set healthy boundaries with people close to you this is an arduous process. And if the pain is so severe that you’ve had thoughts of ending your life, please—there is no shame in seeking help. Reach out immediately. Your life is so valuable.

I’m not a counselor or a therapist. I am simply a girl, a daughter, a mother, a friend, a wife, and a woman who has been wounded—and who needed restoration. You are not alone! We can get through this with our savior. 

Reflection Questions

• When did resentment take root in my life?

• Who hurt me, and what happened?

• What emotions have I carried (anger, fear, shame, rejection, etc.)?

• How have these emotions shaped my behavior or relationships?

• What would freedom look like if I chose to surrender this pain to God?

• What is one practical step I can take today toward forgiveness?

A Prayer for the Journey

Father God, into Your hands I commend my spirit. Interrupt my life and show me the areas where I need Your healing. Give me a willing spirit to be transformed by Your love and mercy. If I abide in You, You will abide in me. And only through You can I experience true freedom. Jesus, walk with me. I will join You in this quest of transformation. Amen.

With utmost love, 

Diana