Anger and Revenge

"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.  Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret, it only leads to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land." - Psalm 37:7-9

Have you ever been in a situation where someone did something awful, either to you or a friend, and got "away" with it?  The initial reaction of the flesh is to flip out on that person and seek revenge.  It sure does feel good to release the tension of the anger that is boiling inside of you on the person guilty of ruining your mood.  That's where the enemy gets you.  He knows how great it feels inside of us to seek revenge on those who harm us, emotionally, physically, or situationally - and he knows how that will wreck relationships, lives, and ultimately our walk with Christ.  In situations like this we must "Be still before the LORD" and lay it all at His feet, including the anger.  God is in control, even when evildoers seem to be getting away with their schemes.  He may be working in that person's life in ways you may never understand or witness. 

So what are we to do? Love them, pray for them, forgive them.  This is extremely hard to do by ourselves, but with God's perfect strength and grace, we can do it.  What a powerful witness and testimony of His love through us if we can show people we forgive them through our actions and words, even if they don't ask for forgiveness.  He may be using us in that situation to get the person's attention.  If you react in anger, you hinder God in reaching that person at that time.  Don't hinder Him, let Him use you!!

Ultimately, trust God in knowing that those who choose to continually turn their backs on Him and induldge themselves in evil will "be cut off - but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land."