189. The Freedom of Forgiveness189. The Freedom of Forgiveness
Hope in Recovery
Andy Petry talks about forgiveness as a key part of recovery, clarifying what it is and what it isn’t. He reflects on bitterness, deep wounds and trusting Jesus with justice while encouraging people to stay open to the possibility of forgiving.
22:54•16 Jun 2026
The Freedom of Forgiveness with Andy Petry
Episode Overview
- Forgiveness is a deliberate choice to release someone to Jesus so you can step into deeper healing and freedom.
- It is not a feeling, not weakness, not forgetting, and not saying that what happened was acceptable.
- Bitterness and resentment act like an emotional cancer that can eventually undermine long-term recovery.
- Forgiving someone does not require reconciliation, ongoing relationship, or any specific response from the other person.
- A helpful starting point is to be honest about the depth of your wounds and stay open to the possibility of forgiving in the future.
“Bitterness and resentment, it's like an emotional cancer. I forgive for my own sake so that I can release that to Jesus so I don't have to keep carrying that burden around.”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction and are now wrestling with forgiveness? This episode of Hope in Recovery centres on that tough question as Celebrate Recovery leader Andy Petry talks honestly about why forgiveness feels so hard and yet is so essential for freedom.
Speaking as "a grateful believer in Jesus" who struggles with anxiety, depression, sexual addiction and grief, Andy shares how he once held on to hurts for years, only to realise that unforgiveness kept him stuck.
He explains that forgiveness is "us choosing to release the people that have hurt us in our lives so that we can step into deeper healing and freedom," while also admitting, with a bit of humour, that his "natural inclination is not to forgive people." You'll hear Andy unpack common misunderstandings: forgiveness is not a feeling, not weakness, not forgetting, and definitely not saying what happened was okay.
He warns that bitterness is "like an emotional cancer" that can take recovery down, and stresses that you can forgive someone without reconciling or putting yourself back in harm’s way.
Rooted in Scripture, especially Ephesians 4 and Romans 5:8, Andy frames forgiveness as handing people "off of my hook" and onto God’s, trusting that "you will leave no good unrewarded and you will leave no evil unpunished." He keeps it very real for those carrying deep wounds, reassuring them that it's okay if forgiveness feels impossible right now and suggesting a gentle first step: staying "curious to the possibility" that one day you might consider forgiving.
For anyone in recovery from hurts, hang-ups or habits, especially within a Christ-centred context, this conversation offers both challenge and comfort. It asks a simple but searching question: are you ready, even just a little, to let God start carrying what’s been weighing you down?
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