When we treat the opportunity that God gives us to experience His grace flowing through us as a legal demand, forgiveness is turned into a cruel trap. It makes God appear to be dangling the carrot of mercy before us but just out of reach because we are unable to attain to His ability to forgive due to the weakness of our flesh. If we view the forgiveness paradigm rightly, we will see that, because it is rooted in God in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, then our role in this Grand Reconciliation is conveying that gift of grace to my neighbor. "Freely have you received; freely give." If the burden of forgiving those who have hurt you is too much for you to bear, remember Jesus' gracious offer: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you will find rest unto your souls."