Forgiveness, Trust, and Moving Forward (Episode 2 - Archive)

Forgiveness, Trust, and Moving Forward (Episode 2 - Archive)

What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This conversation on **Relational Recovery** zooms in on forgiveness, trust, and what it means to move forward in relationships without becoming a doormat. Host Wes Thompson chats with co-host Austin Hill as Austin unpacks how his old idea of forgiveness actually kept him stuck. He explains that he used to “forgive and forget” by just forgetting, skipping the hard work of admitting harm.

As he puts it, “I would just forget. And I'd skip over the forgive part… I didn't even acknowledge that something happened to me.” That pattern slowly chipped away at his own sense of worth. You’ll hear a vivid story about lending a bike to someone who needed transport, only to see it later in a pawn shop – and then giving the same person another bike.

Austin realises this wasn’t real forgiveness, but “allowing people to treat me like a doormat.” From there, the two hosts talk about why true forgiveness starts with recognising, “you deserve to be treated with respect,” and naming when that respect has been violated. The episode also looks at how trust and forgiveness are related but not identical. You can forgive someone and still change the relationship, especially where there’s been abuse, manipulation, or repeated harm.

As Austin explains, “We can love somebody, forgive them, and no longer have a relationship with them.” Aimed at people dealing with addictions and unwanted behaviours, this chat sits at the intersection of relational health, behaviour change, and Christian faith. It offers gentle challenge to those who confuse forgiveness with putting themselves back in harm’s way. If forgiveness is essential for growth, what might healthy boundaries look like for you?