Letting Go of Personal Vengeance and Responding with Goodness
”Never take your own revenge, beloved. Leave room for the wrath of God. It is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.” (Rom. 12:19)
You may have experienced being wronged, mistreated, or hurt by someone. In those moments, the urge to get even can be tempting. You may want to pay that person back. But the Bible teaches something very different: it says that seeking personal revenge is not our job. God wants us to trust Him to handle justice. He encourages us to respond to wrongdoing with kindness, love, and forgiveness.
Vengeance Is Reserved for God
The Bible makes it clear that God is both just and fair. Throughout its pages, we’re told He will ultimately punish those who do wrong. He will stand up for the people who trust Him. In Romans 12:19, it says: “Do not take revenge, my dear friends. Instead, leave room for God’s wrath. It is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” This means that, as humans, it’s not our place to strike back when we’ve been hurt. Our role is to let God decide how and when justice should happen.
Overcoming Evil with Good
The natural reaction to being hurt might be to hurt back, but the Bible flips this idea on its head. Instead of fighting fire with fire, believers are called to fight evil with kindness. Romans 12:21 puts it simply: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” In other words, the best way to defeat wrong is not by repeating it. Instead, do the opposite. Show kindness, patience, and love, even to those who don’t deserve it.
This doesn’t just help the person who did wrong; it also protects your own heart from anger, bitterness, and hate. When you choose to do good, you break the cycle of hurt and show a better way to live.
Forgiveness and Trusting God
Forgiveness can be hard, especially when the pain is deep. But the Bible encourages us to seek peace and forgive those who have wronged us. That doesn’t mean ignoring injustice or pretending everything is fine. Instead, it means trusting God to handle the situation. We should believe that He knows all and sees all. He will set things right in His own time.
When you forgive and let go of revenge, you free yourself from being controlled by anger or bitterness. You show strength—not weakness—by choosing not to let someone’s bad actions turn you into someone you don’t want to be.
Living Out These Teachings
– Don’t let anger control your actions or words. When you feel wronged, take a pause and remember that God sees everything.
– Look for ways to respond with kindness. Sometimes, a gentle answer or a small act of goodness can change a hostile situation.
– Practice forgiveness, even if the other person doesn’t apologize. Forgiving is for your own peace and spiritual health.
– Trust that God will bring justice. You don’t have to fix everything yourself; let God handle what you can’t.
Why This Matters
This teaching isn’t just “good advice”—it’s a core message of the Christian faith. Jesus Himself lived this out, showing love and forgiveness to the very people who hurt Him. By choosing to overcome evil with good, Christians reflect God’s character to the world. They open the door for healing and peace. There is even the possibility that enemies become friends.
Summary
– We are not to take personal revenge; that’s God’s role.
– Respond to evil with good deeds, not with more evil.
– Show forgiveness and kindness, trusting God to bring justice.
– Doing good in the face of evil sets Christian teaching apart. It has the power to change the world.
In short, the Bible’s message is simple but powerful: Let God handle payback. Our job is to keep doing good, even when it’s hard.
Minister A Francine Green
August 2025
afrancinegreen.com 