Forgiveness can be a difficult concept—especially when we’ve been harmed in ways that have long-lasting effects. However, unforgiveness can end up doing even more damage. Our guests this week have stories of pain and harm done by people filled with hatred that was so traumatic, forgiveness seemed like an impossibility. Jeanne Lakin, a writer and speaker, endured the atrocities of the Rwandan genocide as part of an ethnic group who were targeted for massacre. Randy Hartley, a Tennessee businessman, traveled with his daughter to Rwanda and befriended a man whose own aunt was responsible for the death of his mother, sister, and nieces. Forgiveness didn’t seem like an option in their stories, yet through prayer and faith, it became the only choice that would bring wholeness and restoration to those involved.

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:

Jesus Calling Podcast

Jesus Calling

Jesus Always

Jesus Listens

Past interview: Casey, CJ, and Tucker Beathard

Upcoming interview: Sonya Curry

Jeanne Lakin

Rwandan genocide

Tutsis 

Hutus

www.avoiceinthedarkness.org

Randy Hartley

Beautifully Broken

Compassion International

Amy Grant

William and Ebralie Mwizerwa

Legacy Mission Village

Beautifully Broken movie

Interview Quotes:

“We went from being from this home, a beautiful home, to being in the bushes, hiding for our lives and watching our neighbors, our loved ones, our families being basically killed because of how God had created us.” - Jeanne Celestine Lakin

“I knew I could access that peace with God through prayer. I know I had God, who was seeing me through this chaos.” - Jeanne Celestine Lakin

“God created us with a choice, so people could choose to do good.” - Jeanne Celestine Lakin

“He's a God who sees details that we might not see.” - Jeanne Celestine Lakin

“When I was able to forgive, when I was able to say, ‘I forgive you for the rape, for raping me. I forgive you for killing my family. I forgive you for all the pain, all the nights I spent thinking about all the pain you caused in my life,’ that was God's gift.” - Jeanne Celestine Lakin

“Once everything is taken away from you and all you have is God and prayer, He really puts you in a humbling place where nothing else matters. It's you and God, no matter what happens at the end of the day.” - Jeanne Celestine Lakin

“When you have such hatred and bitterness and anger and resentment in your heart, there's just no way to enjoy the simplest thing that God has created for us when we're holding on to that kind of pain.” - Jeanne Celestine Lakin

“If you've ever been a dad driving at 3:00 in the morning and trying to find out where your daughter is, it just doesn't get any darker than that.” - Randy Hartley

“God could take a Rwandan refugee and a national financial planner and a Rwandan genocide perpetrator, and weave their lives together through this divine tapestry in a way that they were all saved.” - Randy Hartley

“When you're broken and you're in a dark place, sometimes it feels like you can ever move forward. But I'm here to tell you, that's just a chapter in your life. That's not the end of your story. That's just a chapter.” - Randy Hartley

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