Forgiveness, Trust, and Moving Forward (Episode 4 - Archive)
Forgiveness, Trust, and Moving Forward (Episode 4 - Archive)

Relational Recovery

Wes Thompson and Austin Hill talk about forgiveness, with a focus on self-forgiveness, God’s grace, and how these shape trust and relationships in recovery. The conversation highlights how facing guilt and shame can become the starting point for healing connections with God, self, and others.

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4:29•1 Jun 2026

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Forgiving Yourself First: Trust, Grace, and Moving Forward in Recovery

Episode Overview

Forgiving yourself is presented as a crucial first step before genuinely forgiving others.
Unresolved personal woundedness often spills into relationships, keeping people stuck relationally.
God’s grace is described as goodness toward those who do not deserve it, and accepting this can anchor someone in a “storm.”
Receiving forgiveness from God and for oneself can fuel healthier relationships with others.
Avoiding the work of forgiveness is said to eventually cause problems, while forgiveness is framed as the catalyst for building trust.

“If I can't forgive myself, trust me, it's going to be really hard to forgive other people.”

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol, shame, and broken trust? This conversation from Relational Recovery circles around a simple but uncomfortable starting point: learning to forgive yourself. Host Wes Thompson, joined by co-host Austin Hill, talks honestly about how hard forgiveness can feel, especially for people stuck in cycles of addiction, guilt, and regret.

Rather than jumping straight to fixing relationships or “being a better person”, they suggest that healing often begins with facing your own fear, guilt, and shame. As Wes puts it, “If I can't forgive myself, trust me, it's going to be really hard to forgive other people.” The episode leans strongly into Christian spirituality, but in a practical, down-to-earth way.

You’ll hear about God’s “radical love” and grace as “goodness towards those who don't deserve it”, and how accepting that undeserved kindness can become “the fuel to then forgive others appropriately.” It’s especially aimed at people who feel stuck in unwanted behaviours and fractured relationships, and who might secretly believe they’re the exception to grace. There’s also a clear warning: ignoring forgiveness doesn’t make it disappear.

Austin notes that if you avoid dealing with it, “it's going to come back and bite you.” Instead, the pair highlight forgiveness as the catalyst for rebuilding trust, mending relationships, and stepping back into connection with God, self, and others in a healthier way.

If you’ve ever tried to fix everything outside of you while quietly falling apart inside, this gentle, faith-based chat might prompt a hard but hopeful question: where might you need to receive forgiveness before you try to offer it?

PreviousForgiveness, Trust, and Moving Forward (Episode 3 - Archive)