Struggling to Forgive: Moving on from trauma

Forgiveness is a central tenet of the Christian faith and yet it is so difficult to embrace and put into practise. With sensitivity and grace, Dr Sue Atkinson explores what it means. The example of Christians forgiving others is often heralded as one of the great signs of Christian love and yet the call to forgive can have a darker side, particularly for victims of injustice and trauma as it can add to their despair and guilt if they do not feel love or the ability to forgive. Well-meaning Christians can make their situation worse with insensitivity and bluntness. In this timely and empathetic book, full of anecdote, story and illustration, Dr Sue Atkinson, tackles what the call to forgive really means. What do we really do when we forgive? Exploring Jesus teaching about forgiveness and justice, she explodes myths and outlines practical ways in which we can let go of resentments. Highly accessible and sensitive this important book will be a means of grace and comfort for those embracing the challenges of forgiveness.

About the Author :
SUE ATKINSON is the author of CLIMBING OUT OF DEPRESSION, a highly successful book which has proved invaluable to many sufferers because it is written from the point of view of a sufferer rather than an 'expert'. Sheis a specialist in mathematics education and has co-authored a definitive maths teaching scheme. The wife of a CoE archdeacon, she has four grown up children and lives in Norwich.

Review :
Struggling to Forgive is a book which, as its title so aptly points out, is honest that forgiveness can be a struggle, and at times a very hard struggle. Well-informed by pastoral realism and theological integrity, Sue Atkinson leads us through many difficult questions to do with forgiveness with plenty of real-life examples. I warmly commend this perceptive book as thought-provoking, easy to read and eminently practical. Some of the appalling so called `Christian’ understandings of forgiveness which can be SO hurting to a survivor are examined and dissected and the theological basis of them destroyed lovingly by Sue. My hope is that this book is not only read by survivors of child abuse but also by caring Christians who are interested in genuinely helping people to heal from the hurts of their childhood. Accessible and honest, this is a book based on hard-won self-awareness and genuine compassion for others. It can therefore be placed with gentle confidence in the hands of victims of abuse. A very good and illuminating read. A wonderful achievement. Sue Atkinson writes about the complexity of forgiveness with striking honesty and profound simplicity. Those struggling to forgive will be helped to understand themselves. Anyone inclined to instruct others to forgive will be chastened. People able to forgive will be given fresh insight into what they have done. Sue addresses our minds and spirits with great sensitivity. She has written a forgiving book. Sue Atkinson spells out with costly honesty the hard work of forgiveness. No illusions or shortcuts, but a powerful sense of how this most radical of promises and imperatives actually fleshes itself out in human lives. We are shown how what seems impossible becomes real – but not with some sort of `magical’ swiftness and ease, so that the centrality of the crucified love of Christ never moves out of focus. A book of real value and depth. Refreshingly honest, psychologically realistic, biblically responsible, and pastorally sensitive … Many will find it a godsend. “The author writes from her experience, which is painful yet adds strength to the message of her book … full of the Biblical themes of healing, love and compassion … practical, clearly set out and easy to read, but never trite or simplistic … many will be encouraged in the process to healing by reading this book”