Have you ever had to deal with painful memories that were long forgotten, but that came rushing to the surface with all of the pain that has been there since the beginning? Were you able to see it in a new light, or was there so much pain and grief that there was nothing else to be felt? Was it something that you did to someone else, or was it something that was done to you? No matter what happened, it hurts. There is no way to make it hurt less on your own. There is only one who can heal the pain, loss, grief, etc. that you are feeling. God is the only one who can give the healing that you are desperately in need of.
2 Corinthians 2:5-11.
5 If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree—not to exaggerate—to all of you. 6 The punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient for that person. 7 As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 I wrote for this purpose: to test your character to see if you are obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone, I do too. For what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—it is for you in the presence of Christ. 11 I have done this so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.
You can forgive someone without telling them, especially if telling them would only enable them to continue harming you. To "forgive and forget" before they are truly sorry is only setting yourself up and enabling them to continue harming you. You can love and pray for them from a distance. When it is a dangerous situation for you to be near them, it is very possible that God has others already planned to make the impact for Him on them that you desire to see. It is never wise to deliberately put yourself in an unhealthy situation.
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