It's Time with Jillian Melissa

In this deeply personal and spiritually grounded solo episode of It’s Time, Jillian Melissa explores one of the most misunderstood—and most avoided—spiritual practices: forgiveness. This episode is not about bypassing pain, forcing reconciliation, or pretending you’re “over it.” Instead, Jillian walks listeners through a raw, embodied inquiry into what forgiveness actually is, what it is not, and why unforgiveness quietly hardens the heart and keeps us tethered to the past. Drawing from lived experience, Christian theology, somatic wisdom, and teachings from Brad Hambrick’s work on forgiveness, Jillian reframes forgiveness as an internal act of light, not a relational obligation. If you’ve ever withheld forgiveness to protect yourself… If you’ve confused forgiveness with trust, reconciliation, or forgetting… If you’ve felt stuck between boundaries and bitterness… This episode is an invitation to choose light without abandoning yourself. ✨ What This Episode Covers Why forgiveness is not pretending you’re unhurt Why forgiving someone does not mean letting them off the hook The difference between forgiveness and excusing behavior How withholding forgiveness calcifies the heart Why forgiveness is an internal process, not a relational contract Forgiveness as a commitment to what you do with pain when it resurfaces The spiritual cost of bitterness and resentment Why boundaries and forgiveness can coexist Forgiveness as “turning on the light” inside the wound The link between forgiveness, embodiment, and alignment with God Why self-forgiveness is often the hardest place to begin 🔍 Core Teaching: Five Things Forgiveness Is Not Forgiveness is not pretending you’re not hurt Forgiveness does not require silencing yourself or denying pain. Forgiveness is not letting someone off the hook It does not erase accountability or minimize harm. Forgiveness is not making excuses for someone Understanding someone’s wounds does not justify their behavior. Forgiveness is not forgetting Memory and discernment remain intact. Forgiveness is not trust or reconciliation You can forgive without restoring access or relationship. 🌿 A Note on Embodiment Throughout the episode, Jillian emphasizes the importance of listening to the body—especially within spiritual communities that mistakenly equate holiness with neglect of physical needs. The body is not an obstacle to God. The body is a source of intelligence, discernment, and truth. 🔗 Connect with Jillian Melissa Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jillianmelissaintuition 🤍 Closing Invitation If this episode stirred something in you—resistance, emotion, relief, or recognition—sit with it. Forgiveness is not rushed. It is practiced. And if you’re not ready yet, that’s okay. Awareness is the beginning.