Revenge Isn’t Sweet

It’s natural right? It’s just something we deal with because we are human right? Or is it…

Bitterness is not healthy. Yes, we are all human and we will deal with feelings and emotions our entire life. The trick? Putting them in check quickly when they need to be put in check. And by this I don’t mean based on someone else’s opinions – but rather what scripture says. I read a devotion on anger and bitterness this morning, which I (and everyone else who is honest with themselves) deal with. When we are hurt the natural emotion is to want to “hurt back” towards the person or people who initially caused these feelings in us. God’s love covers all things… and all people… not just the one’s we pick and choose. Lucky for us that is not left in our hands to do. When we get angry towards a situation or towards people my suggestion is reading through these scriptures:

ROMANS 12:19
19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD.”

PROVERBS 25:21
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink”

MATTHEW 5:44
44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you”

These scriptures are a handful of the scriptures we could pull about how to react to people. We should be loving people regardless of faults and failures, hangups and pride. Always try to put your best into commitments and relationships. But what about those times that no matter how much effort is put forth nothing changes? Pray from a distance. You don’t have to be with someone or be in a situation that is toxic. But God still commands us to pray for one another. It’s important to overlook our flesh and seek HIS spirit filled knowledge and wisdom on how to deal with our situations. Sometimes, when it’s really uncomfortable and you just run from the uncomfortableness – that’s really God providing your next learning tool. But because you didn’t like how it “felt” then you miss it out. I’m guilty of this – if I’m preaching to the choir – I’m part of it. I know my exact vocal part and everything. lol

The hard part is acting on what you know you should do. Sure – I have days where I have so much anger and bitterness toward people or situations that I don’t want to pray for them at all… or I don’t want to see them at all… or I don’t want to show up to a place because of a situation I know of… but we have to. I have to. You have to. If God decrees it, we His sheep, must listen. When we don’t? No one else suffers except yourself. You ready for this? The only person who can change that fate is you. God can speak all day long but until we clear our hearts of the muck, crap and ugliness it’s filled with – it will remain the same. Hard as stone and cold as ice. I don’t about you but I want more than an ice-cold feeling. To do this? I have to learn to not allow people to get to me. Sometimes I do well and I’m strong enough to look past harsh words or extreme rudeness. Other times I can’t and I allow it to get to me. All of us need to be focusing on the only thing that matters… what does GOD want me to do today?