Forgiveness by June Hunt (Book Review)

[Abigail.2025]

Forgiveness is a deliberate act of releasing your right to revenge and entrusting justice to God, so your heart can be free—even if the situation never changes.

Forgiveness is FOR YOU – NOT the one who has wronged you.

Forgiveness presents forgiveness as a deliberate act of the will rather than an emotional response. June Hunt emphasizes that forgiveness is a choice—one that involves releasing your right to revenge, letting go of bitterness, and entrusting justice to God. It is not something that happens all at once, but more like slowly opening a clenched hand, allowing what you've been gripping tightly to finally fall away.

Hunt is careful to clarify what forgiveness is not. Forgiving someone does not mean excusing the offense, minimizing the pain, or pretending the wrongdoing never happened. It does not require immediate trust, nor does it guarantee reconciliation. Instead, forgiveness and trust are separate matters. Forgiveness is a gift freely given, while trust must be rebuilt over time and, in some cases, may not be restored at all. Healthy boundaries can and should exist alongside forgiveness.

The book also explains the emotional and spiritual consequences of unforgiveness. Holding onto resentment can lead to deep bitterness, emotional distress, and even physical strain. It keeps a person tethered to the one who caused the harm, allowing the past to continue exerting control. In this sense, unforgiveness harms the one who holds it more than the one who caused the offense, quietly draining peace and hindering spiritual growth.

At its core, Hunt's teaching is rooted in biblical principles. She points to God's forgiveness through Christ as the foundation and model for how believers are called to forgive others. Forgiveness is framed as an act of obedience to God, not something dependent on the offender's actions or the victim's feelings. In this way, the motivation to forgive comes from understanding God's character rather than evaluating the worthiness of the one who caused the harm.

Hunt outlines a practical process for forgiveness that begins with acknowledging the hurt honestly and without denial. From there, a person must make a conscious decision to forgive, recognizing that this choice may need to be repeated over time. The next step involves releasing the offender to God, surrendering the desire for personal retaliation and trusting divine justice. Finally, she encourages replacing bitterness with truth, compassion, and, when possible, prayer—even when that prayer begins reluctantly.

For those who have experienced deep wounds such as abuse or long-term betrayal, Hunt acknowledges that forgiveness may be a gradual process rather than a single moment. She stresses the importance of maintaining boundaries and ensuring personal safety, recognizing that forgiveness does not require ongoing exposure to harm. Healing, in these cases, unfolds over time and with care.

Ultimately, the outcome of forgiveness is freedom. As bitterness loosens its grip, peace begins to take its place. The person who forgives is no longer controlled by past wounds or defined by the actions of others. Instead, forgiveness becomes a way of reclaiming emotional and spiritual clarity, allowing the heart to rest in a place no longer dominated by resentment.

The Process of Forgiveness

June Hunt gives a practical pathway:

1. Acknowledge the Hurt

Be honest about the pain

Don't minimize or deny it

2. Choose to Forgive

A deliberate decision of the will

Often repeated, not one-and-done

3. Release the Offender to God

Give up your right to "even the score"

Trust God as the ultimate judge

4. Replace Bitterness

With truth, compassion, and prayer

Sometimes praying for the person (even if it feels impossible at first)


June Hunt's FORGIVENESS

[Cascade]

Thanks for sharing, this sounds like a good book.