Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I’ll take revenge; I’ll pay them back, says the Lord” (Rom.12:19). “Resentment kills a fool” (Job. 5:2). “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger… forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Eph. 4:31-32).
Heavenly Father, help us. It gets confusing. Grace us. It’s really hard at times. When does an appropriate longing for justice cross over into resentment, hate, and get-even madness? Being slighted is one thing; being pummeled by betrayals, deceit, and lies is different. Grieving the events in Israel and Ukraine connects us with stories much closer to home and heart.
Through the power of your Holy Spirit, the resources of the Gospel, and the gift of community—don’t let our healthy anger morph into destructive revenge. Don’t let our hurts become a band of vigilante marauders, not just bent on getting even, but upping the ante—repaying harm for harm, evil for evil, and death for death. That’s not getting even; it’s setting up a recipe for loss of heart and health.
Don’t let our vulnerable hearts become gardens for the planting of roots of resentment, bushes of bitterness, hedges of hate. Father, as you forgave us in Jesus, help us even want to forgive others. Then free us to forgive. Make the Gospel more defining than our pain. Write stories of redemption and restoration with the two inks of our temporal hurt and your eternal grace. We pray for the peace of Israel, Ukraine, our circle of relationships and the heart beating within our chest. So Very Amen.