Forgiveness, Part 2 (Episode 5 - Archive)Forgiveness, Part 2 (Episode 5 - Archive)
Relational Recovery
Wes Thompson and Austin Hill talk about forgiveness from a Christian recovery perspective, connecting God’s grace with self-forgiveness and releasing resentment. The conversation reflects on scripture, inner justice and the challenge of forgiving both others and yourself as part of healing.
7:48•7 Oct 2026
Forgiveness, Faith and Flourishing in Relational Recovery
Episode Overview
- Forgiveness is hard work and requires intentional effort rather than avoidance or wishful thinking.
- Practising forgiveness towards others can gradually support forgiving yourself, and vice versa.
- God’s forgiveness, described in 1 John 1:9, is portrayed as both pardoning and cleansing from wrongdoing.
- A sense of inner justice and the feeling that something needs setting right is linked to being made in God’s image.
- Letting go of anger and resentment toward others and yourself is described as a key way to flourish in life and recovery.
“It's an invitation to put our anger down, to put our resentment down… that’s the way to flourish.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This archive episode of Relational Recovery takes a close look at forgiveness and how it affects both personal healing and relationships. With Wes Thompson and Austin Hill guiding the chat, you'll hear a relaxed but serious conversation shaped by Christian spirituality and psychology. The focus here is on how forgiving others and forgiving yourself are closely linked.
Wes and Austin talk about forgiveness as hard work rather than a quick emotional decision, pointing out that "it's not something that we should be flippant with. It takes a lot of effort to forgive somebody." They share how growing in the practice of forgiving others can gradually help you deal with harsh self-judgement, and how recognising your own weaknesses can make space for grace towards other people.
The episode leans strongly into the idea that people are made in God's image and carry a deep sense that something in them needs setting right. Through passages like 1 John 1:9 and the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6, they reflect on forgiveness as a gift from God that cleanses and restores, not just a religious theory.
You’ll hear them wrestle honestly with tough questions, such as what it means if someone struggles to forgive themselves, and whether that affects how they receive God’s forgiveness. They also connect forgiveness to Jesus’ command to love God and "love your neighbour as yourself", suggesting that laying down anger and resentment toward others and yourself opens the door to a more flourishing life.
The tone stays gentle and non-judgemental, making space for people who feel stuck with one or two people they just can’t forgive yet. If you’ve ever felt blocked by resentment, shame or self-hatred, this conversation offers a thoughtful, faith-based framework for taking the next small step. Where might forgiveness—towards others or yourself—be the key piece you’ve been missing?
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