One thing I have been thinking about is this: if unforgiveness supposedly blocks us from hearing God, then how do we explain the scriptures that say God will never leave us?

The Bible says in Hebrews 13:5 that God will never leave us nor forsake us. That’s a very strong promise. It doesn’t say God will leave if we’re struggling emotionally. It doesn’t say He leaves if we’re angry, hurt, or processing trauma. It simply says never.

Then there’s another powerful passage in Romans 8:38–39 which says that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing. Not life, not death, not angels, not powers, not anything in all creation.

So this raises an important question: if nothing can separate us from God’s love, how can unforgiveness suddenly block our entire connection with Him?

Many church environments teach that if you don’t forgive quickly enough, God won’t hear your prayers or speak to you. But when we look closely at scripture, we see something different. Throughout the Bible, people cried out to God while they were in pain, confusion, anger, and deep emotional struggle.

David poured out grief, frustration, and even anger in the Psalms. Job questioned God in the middle of suffering. Jeremiah expressed deep sorrow and discouragement. Yet God did not abandon them, silence them, or cut off communication.

Their honest emotions were not barriers to God. In fact, many of those raw prayers are now part of scripture.

This suggests something important: God’s presence is not dependent on us being emotionally perfect.

Forgiveness can be a process. Healing can take time. And for people who have experienced serious trauma, abuse, or violence, forgiveness is not something that can be forced overnight just to satisfy religious expectations.

God does not disappear while someone is healing.

If God promises He will never leave us and that nothing can separate us from His love, then that means He is present even in the middle of our pain, our questions, and our healing journey.

Maybe instead of telling people that unforgiveness blocks God from them, we should remind people of what scripture actually promises: God stays.

Even while we are still working through the hardest parts of life.