If You Don't Get In The Way
"Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord is with those who uphold my life."
Psalm 54:4
If God is one's helper, knowing that should dispel all fear. If God is my helper, then I'm not left to figure things out on my own. If God is my helper, then no enemy can prevail over me, no trouble can come to me unless it is necessary to bring about the purpose of God in my life. If God is my helper, then I can totally trust in him. If I have surrendered my life to him, then my life is in HIS hands, and all things that touch my life will be worked together for my good (Romans 8:28).
When I have been hurt - if God is my helper then I will leave vengeance in his hands knowing that he alone is just.
vs 5:
"He will repay my enemies for their evil."
As he also has said:
"'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord.'"
Romans 12:19
We do not see from God's perspective so we don't know all. There are parts of the story, behind the scenes, that we're unaware of. The Lord has a plan for each one, even for each one who does wrong to us. When we take vengeance into our hands, we won't get it right because we don't know all the details and we do not have God's perspective. When we leave things in God's hands, we can absolutely trust that they will be worked out the right way.
In the meantime:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him,
if he is thirsty, give him a drink;
for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.
Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:20-21
If Jesus, hanging on that cross, could say:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
Luke 23:34
...then how much more should we say the same concerning those who hurt us? When they hurt us, it's not us they really have in mind, it's their own messed up thinking, they're speaking and acting from their own dysfunction. Our response, if we are followers of Christ, is to pray for them. They need help, and who is more able to help them than us ...IF ...we are willing to pray for them instead of fighting back? THEN God will move, he will vindicate, and in the process he will draw them to himself, and that victory will be more glorious than the satisfaction one would have had in taking vengeance.
He does all things well ...IF ...we don't get in the way.