Christ With Coffee On Ice: "I Physically Don't Know How to Forgive Them" – Episode Summary

Release Date: June 6, 2025
Host: Ally Yost

In this heartfelt episode of Christ With Coffee On Ice, host Ally Yost delves deep into the challenging yet transformative journey of forgiveness. Through personal anecdotes, scriptural references, and insightful discussions, Ally offers listeners a compassionate guide to navigating the complexities of forgiving others while maintaining personal boundaries and spiritual growth.

1. Introduction to Forgiveness

The episode kicks off with Ally expressing her excitement about reuniting in the studio and introducing the topic of forgiveness. She underscores the importance of recurring discussions on forgiveness to foster a deeper understanding and spiritual renewal.

Ally Yost [02:50]: "Whether we've talked about it or not, whether we've done an entire episode about this before or not, we are going to be talking about forgiveness today."

2. Personal Revelation and the Complexity of Forgiveness

Ally shares a poignant personal experience where she struggled to reconcile her feelings of love with the pain caused by someone she cared about. This internal conflict led her to seek divine guidance on how to genuinely forgive without prematurely rushing into reconciliation.

Ally Yost [04:20]: "I felt the Lord give me a vision... forgiving someone doesn't mean that the boo boo isn't gone yet."

3. Understanding Intentional vs. Unintentional Hurt

Through her revelation, Ally distinguishes between intentional harm—where someone knowingly causes pain—and unintentional hurt—where harm occurs without malicious intent. She emphasizes that forgiveness is possible in both scenarios but acknowledges the lingering emotional wounds that may require time to heal.

Ally Yost [07:15]: "Forgiving someone doesn't mean that that boo boo isn't gone yet."

4. Scriptural Foundations of Forgiveness

Ally brings forth key scriptures to anchor her discussion, highlighting how biblical teachings frame forgiveness as an essential Christian practice rooted in God's infinite grace.

• Ephesians 4:32

  "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

• Matthew 6:14

  "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

• Colossians 3:13

  "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone."

She draws connections between these scriptures and the idea that forgiveness mirrors the boundless forgiveness bestowed upon believers by God.

5. Forgiveness as a Spiritual Practice

Delving deeper, Ally explains that forgiveness isn't merely an emotional release but a spiritual discipline that fosters closer relationships with God. She discusses how the Holy Spirit empowers believers to forgive beyond their natural capabilities, ensuring that forgiveness doesn't equate to condoning wrongdoing but serves as a pathway to inner peace and spiritual growth.

Ally Yost [10:00]: "Forgiveness is a spiritual practice... it helps them grow closer to God, release emotional burdens, and experience a deeper sense of peace."

6. Addressing Unresolved Pain Without Invalidating It

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the delicate balance between forgiving someone and acknowledging the pain endured. Ally assures listeners that forgiving others doesn't require them to forget the hurt or rush the healing process. Instead, it's about releasing resentment while still respecting one's own need for healing and boundaries.

Ally Yost [12:45]: "Jesus is not here to invalidate and say, 'I'm sorry, you shouldn't be hurting over that anymore.'"

7. Serving Others as Serving Christ: Matthew 25:34

Ally references Matthew 25:34 to illustrate the profound connection between serving and forgiving others as acts of serving Christ Himself. She emphasizes that acts of kindness and forgiveness towards others are reflections of one's devotion to Christ and embody His teachings.

Ally Yost [14:30]: "When we give to the people who need it, you gave to me."

8. Q&A: Navigating Difficult Forgiveness Scenarios

After the mid-episode sponsorship breaks, Ally transitions into a listener Q&A segment, addressing common challenges related to forgiveness:

a. Forgiving Repeated Hurts

Question: How can you forgive someone who did something multiple times they knew would hurt you again?
Ally's Insight: Forgiveness is still attainable even when someone repeatedly hurts you. However, maintaining personal boundaries is essential to prevent further harm. Forgiving doesn't necessitate continuing the relationship but rather releasing the emotional burden.

Ally Yost [18:45]: "You can still have forgiveness and love them while keeping them at a distance."

b. Forgiving Without an Apology

Question: How do you forgive when they never apologized?
Ally's Insight: Forgiveness doesn't rely on receiving an apology. Drawing strength from God allows individuals to forgive regardless of the other person's actions. This approach prevents lingering bitterness and promotes inner peace.

Ally Yost [22:10]: "You just need Jesus to help you with this. I need Him to carry my burden."

c. Forgiveness vs. Friendship

Question: Forgiving exes feel like forgiveness equals being friends with them, but I don't want to.
Ally's Insight: Forgiveness and friendship are distinct. One can forgive without maintaining a friendship, especially if the relationship was harmful. Forgiving is about releasing resentment, not necessarily about staying connected.

Ally Yost [25:30]: "Forgiving doesn't mean staying friends. You can forgive and still move on."

9. Conclusion and Encouragement

Ally wraps up the episode with a heartfelt prayer, reaffirming her gratitude for the insights shared and encouraging listeners to embody forgiveness in their lives as a testament to their faith and relationship with Christ.

Ally Yost [29:50]: "Let's do something cool today. Let's show somebody how cool Jesus is. Let's be more forgiving just as Jesus forgives us."

Key Takeaways

• Forgiveness is Multifaceted: It encompasses releasing emotional burdens while maintaining healthy boundaries.
• Rooted in Love: True forgiveness stems from love, not resentment or bitterness.
• Spiritual Empowerment: The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in enabling believers to forgive beyond their natural capacity.
• Scriptural Guidance: Biblical teachings provide a foundation for understanding and practicing forgiveness.
• Distinct from Reconciliation: Forgiving someone doesn't mandate rekindling the relationship.

Notable Quotes

• Ally Yost [07:15]: "Forgiving someone doesn't mean that that boo boo isn't gone yet."
• Ally Yost [10:00]: "Forgiveness is a spiritual practice... it helps them grow closer to God, release emotional burdens, and experience a deeper sense of peace."
• Ally Yost [18:45]: "You can still have forgiveness and love them while keeping them at a distance."
• Ally Yost [25:30]: "Forgiving doesn't mean staying friends. You can forgive and still move on."

Final Thoughts

Ally Yost's exploration of forgiveness in this episode offers a compassionate and spiritually grounded approach to one of life's most challenging emotional endeavors. By intertwining personal experience with biblical wisdom, she provides listeners with practical tools and divine encouragement to embrace forgiveness, fostering both personal healing and deeper spiritual connections.