If I struggle with anything, it’s the anger I feel when people mistreat me. I seem to be unable to let things go and still feel anger from the past. Every time someone mocks me or gets angry at me for something small, I resist the urge to strike back.

A lot has happened to me that I feel angry about, and I need to tell myself every day to look beyond my own pain. Even though I tell myself this, I still feel the anger from the past. Honestly, I see no way out of this.

However, I know there is a solution which is found in Romans 12:19 where God says that he will handle payback to those who have hurt his children. He tells us that we do not need to strike back or even defend ourselves. What he has told me is to do in these situations is to remain calm and trust that he will defend me.

Absorbing the pain of being mocked and mistreated is part of our walk with Christ and there is no getting around it. If we don’t forgive others, he will not forgive us. Jesus went to the cross so we can have forgiveness of our sins. As I write this post, I think about how impossible it feels to have so much love for my enemies.

It is important to note that what God requires us to do here is obey him. He tells to forgive and let go so we must do that. He is not asking us to feel loving towards people, he is just asking us to do it.

As you go about your walk with the Lord and are persecuted, know that every time you chose love over payback, you are storing up a rich reward in heaven. God sees you and hears your prayers and he will give you the strength to love and forgive. Just remember to keep your eyes fixed on heaven and your thoughts fixed on Jesus.

-Phil