Forgiveness is essential for a relationship to begin the healing process.  Webster's New World Dictionary defines forgiveness as: "to give up resentment against or the desire to punish; a pardon against an offense."  Forgiveness is not ignoring that a wrong has been committed, but it is choosing to not act out against that wrong.  "Yes, you hurt me.  But I choose not to hold it against you."  

Forgiveness is probably one of the hardest parts of this journey. 
We often dwell on how unfair it has been to us, and we want to see our spouse acknowledge the hurts that we are feeling.  The reality is, they can never truly understand what we are feeling and the hurts we have endured.  

The Bible defines forgiveness as an "acquittal."  Basically, it says you're letting go of the offenses done "to" you because of the price Jesus Christ paid "for" you.  Jesus commands us to forgive, and He will provide us with the power and strength to do so.

The Bible is pretty specific about forgiveness.  For how can we
expect God to forgive us of our own sins, if we continue to hold
the sins of our spouse against them


ON THE BRINK OF DIVORCE: The Four Promises of Forgiveness