True freedom begins with one of life’s most challenging decisions: choosing to release our right to get even. While the desire for revenge burns naturally in our hearts, we possess something that sets us apart from the animal kingdom—the gift of free will. This divine ability allows us to choose restraint over retaliation, wisdom over wrath.
Looking back at who I was a decade ago, I see a profound transformation in this area of my life. The foundation of this growth rests on three unshakeable truths that have become pillars of strength:
The first comes from Psalm 56:8, where we learn that God has kept a record of our tears. Every hurt, every injustice, every moment of pain has been carefully documented by the One who loves us most. The second truth, found in Romans 12:19, reminds us to never seek personal vengeance, but to leave justice in God’s capable hands, for He alone has the authority to repay. Finally, Romans 8:28 assures us that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
This perspective brings extraordinary peace: One day, the books will be balanced. One day, every wrong will be made right. One day, justice will be served by the only One qualified to serve it. Our job is not to carry the burden of settling scores. It’s to trust in divine justice while pursuing our life’s true purpose.
There’s profound comfort in knowing that something greater than ourselves is keeping watch. A loving God who has recorded every tear we’ve shed, every wound we’ve endured, and who will ensure that justice is served in His perfect timing. This truth liberates us from the prison of anger and the exhausting pursuit of revenge. Instead, we can process our pain, learn from our experiences, grow stronger, and move forward with purpose.
The image of God keeping a record of our tears represents one of the most beautiful expressions of love imaginable. It not only demonstrates how deeply we are cherished but also compels us to extend that same love to others. This divine love becomes the fuel that powers our life’s work and mission.
My prayer for you is that you’ll embrace this same freedom. Remember that God is more concerned with developing your character than ensuring your comfort. When pain strikes, ask yourself this transformative question: “What is God trying to develop in me to make me more like the person He created me to be?”
Through every trial, God is cultivating something beautiful in you and through you. No matter how many tears others have caused you to shed, don’t allow their actions to derail your purpose. God has your back, and He will handle the justice so you don’t have to.
The path to freedom isn’t found in getting even. It’s found in letting go and trusting the One who never lets go of you.
Filling the Void: When Revenge Gives Way to Love
When we release our grip on revenge, we create space for something infinitely more powerful to take its place: God’s love. This isn’t merely an absence of hatred but a deliberate choice to fill that void with divine love, a love that transforms us from the inside out.
True love follows the ultimate pattern: God’s own example. He gave His Son to humanity, not because we deserved such a sacrifice, but because love compels giving, not getting. This is the model that reshapes our understanding of what love truly means.
In his magnificent words in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul calls grateful believers to embody this same love—a love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. These aren’t mere poetic phrases but a blueprint for living that stands in stark contrast to our culture’s distorted definition of love.
Today’s world has twisted love’s meaning completely backwards. When we hear “I love,” it often translates to “I want” or “I desire”—a selfish grasping rather than a selfless giving. Our fallen world has corrupted love’s essence, turning it 180 degrees from its intended purpose.
Authentic love is not about what we can extract from others but about what we can offer. It’s the currency of sacrifice, the language of service, the heartbeat of generosity. Love is what you give, not what you get.
This divine love operates on a sacred hierarchy: loving God means giving yourself to God first, pouring yourself out in worship, surrender, and obedience. Then, overflowing from that primary relationship, you give yourself to others—serving, blessing, and sacrificing for their good. Only then, having given to God and others, do you attend to yourself with the gentle care of one who knows they are deeply loved.
When revenge is replaced by this kind of love, transformation becomes inevitable. The energy once spent plotting retribution now flows toward redemption. The heart once hardened by hurt becomes soft with compassion. The life once consumed by settling scores becomes consumed by something far more beautiful—reflecting the very character of the One who loved us first.
This is the path to freedom: not in getting even, but in letting go and allowing God’s love to fill every space that revenge once occupied.
This post was originally published on March 25, 2018, and it was republished on May 7, 2023, with enhancements and a new ending. Today, it’s republished with a fresh rewrite and a new title.
MindWolves 