Episode 144: Love Stays

Pain changes us. But it doesn't have to change our hearts.

That's the truth I want to sit with today — because I think a lot of us have experienced a moment where something hurt us deeply and without even realizing it, we started to shut down. The walls went up. We became more guarded. Less open. And we told ourselves it was necessary.

And maybe it was, for a season.

But here's what I've learned: when we put up a wall to keep the pain out, it keeps everything out. It keeps people out. It keeps love out. And it keeps God out too. I know that because I've lived it.

This week I want us to step into the Easter story differently. Not from the end — not with the resurrection already in view — but scene by scene, moment by moment. Because when we read Jesus's story knowing how it ends, we can unintentionally bypass the very real pain he felt as a human being.

He was betrayed by someone close to him. Denied by one of his closest friends. Abandoned by the very people who said they would stay. Publicly mocked and crucified.

From a human perspective, those are exactly the moments where we would expect anger. Bitterness. A desire for retaliation.

Instead he said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

He didn't deny what was happening. He didn't pretend it didn't hurt. But he didn't let the pain turn into hardness either.

Love stayed.

And I think that's the invitation for us too.

Now — I want to be clear about something, because this comes up every time I talk about forgiveness. Forgiveness and boundaries are two very different things and we have to walk two very different paths with them. If you've experienced abuse or you're in a relationship that is consistently harmful, I am not asking you to keep your heart open to that person. That's not what this is about.