BOOK REVIEW
Title: Forgive and Forget – The Heart of God
…A Book That Heals The Wounded Heart
Author: Aremo Olusiji Balogun
In a world where offence has become a daily currency – in marriages, in churches, in communities, on social media and in politics – Aremo Olusiji Balogun’s new book, “Forgive and Forget – The Heart of God” arrives as a timely medicine.
This is not just another book on forgiveness. It is an epistle from a man who has walked through fire.
Many readers know Balogun from his debut book “Drag On” where he chronicled his season of trials, stigmatization and wilderness experience. If “Drag On” was the story of his pain, “Forgive and Forget” is the story of his healing. And that is what makes this book powerful. It is not theory; it is testimony.
The book is divided into 13 compelling chapters where the author takes us on a spiritual and emotional journey. He begins by defining what forgiveness is not – forgiveness is not pretending you were not hurt, it is not excusing the offender, and it is not a sign of weakness. Drawing richly from Scriptures – from Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers to Christ’s prayer on the Cross, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34) – Balogun shows that forgiveness is the very Heart of God.
What I find most striking is his distinction between ‘Forgive’ and ‘Forget’. He argues convincingly that while we may never develop spiritual amnesia, we can reach a point where we no longer use the past as a weapon against those who hurt us. That is true forgetting in the eyes of God. When God says in Hebrews 8:12, “Their sins I will remember no more,” He does not have a bad memory; He has made a divine choice.
Balogun writes in simple, accessible, yet deeply penetrating prose. His language is that of a pastor, a counselor, and a fellow sufferer.
He does not preach down to the reader; he walks alongside the reader. Every chapter ends with practical, soul-searching questions and prayers that make the book useful for personal devotion, for counseling sessions, and for Church study groups.
If there is any weakness, it is that one wishes the book were longer. After being so blessed, you want more.
Who should read this book?
Everyone who is hurting. Every husband and wife who keep records of wrongs. Every pastor who is leading people while bleeding inside. Every youth who was betrayed by a friend. Every politician who has been wounded by political associates – as the author himself was in his service in Akoko North-West and Irun/Ogbagi LCDA.
In the end, “Forgive and Forget” reminds us that unforgiveness is a prison, and we are both the prisoner and the jailer. Forgiveness is the key that sets us free.
I strongly recommend this book to all.
It is not just a book to read. It is a book to live.
