"Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart"

Forgiveness often feels elusive when emotions are raw and pain lingers. Corrie Ten Boom’s insight reveals a profound distinction: forgiveness is not primarily an emotional state but a conscious choice. The act of forgiveness rests not in waiting for warm, reconciliatory feelings to arise, but in the capacity to decide, by an exercise of will, to release resentment or grudges. This approach frees individuals from being at the mercy of fluctuating feelings, empowering them to step toward healing even when their emotions have not yet softened.

The heart, subject to deep wounds and fierce emotions, may resist letting go of anger, grief, or betrayal. However, the will exists as a separate faculty, capable of functioning independently of these emotional surges. By choosing to forgive, a person is not condoning or forgetting the wrong done but is acknowledging that holding on to resentment only deepens suffering. This choice allows the forgiver to take responsibility for their own inner state, acting from a place of strength rather than victimization.

Moreover, forgiveness as a willful act creates space for the slow work of emotional transformation. While the heart might initially remain cold or resistant, the intentional act of forgiveness begins a new trajectory, one that often leads, over time, to genuine peace and relief. The process recognizes that waiting for emotions to change before forgiving may mean never forgiving at all. By engaging the will, individuals can initiate a cycle where the eventual thawing of the heart follows the decision to forgive.

Corrie Ten Boom’s perspective is especially powerful given her experiences during World War II, demonstrating that even in the face of unspeakable suffering, the human spirit retains the freedom to choose forgiveness. In claiming that freedom, we become agents of our own well-being and contributors to the healing of broken relationships.