Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19
When a person has hurt or wronged you, your usual first thought is one of revenge. We think that by holding a grudge against that person, we make ourselves feel better. Seeking revenge does not draw out the pain the behaviors that hurt you. It just perpetuates the cycle of pain. Rage only leads to more pain. Pain is something we share, I’m sure of it. It connects us. I know, because I’ve inflicted anger to someone who has caused me so much pain in the past. I’d been abused, neglected, used and offended in many ways, but I’ve never was much for holding a grudge against anyone. But then one day, while I was walking, I saw this sheet of paper with this bible verse and it struck me at the very core of my being, it says: Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ( Romans 12:19 ) as if God was speaking right in front of me.
I eventually realized that holding a grudge never affects the offender in any way. It’s us, the hurt ones. who stand to forfeit the most. I couldn’t get better until I let go of my anger and started forgiving those who had hurt me. Forgiveness, for me began by realizing that I wasn’t blameless for the events in my life. I may have been hurt by people, but I may have been to blame for causing hurt as well. This shift in perspective was eye opening for me. It allowed me to move forward and start rebuilding a life that had been broken. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s worth it.
When you forgive, you give your right for revenge to God. The person who wronged you is still accountable for what they have done. The wrong is now between the wrongdoer and God. If you’ve been badly hurt and can’t forgive, it’s alright. Ask God to make you willing to forgive.
“Forgive, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace” –Author Unknown
