You Don’t Have to Get Even

Somebody hurt you and got away with it. You know exactly who I am talking about.

Maybe it happened years ago. Maybe it is still happening right now.

Every part of you wants to make it right yourself. Get the last word. Make them feel it too.

But Paul says something that sounds almost impossible.

What Paul Said

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." — Romans 12:19 (KJV)

Paul did not come up with this on his own. When he says “it is written,” he is quoting Moses:

"To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time." — Deuteronomy 32:35 (KJV)

The book of Hebrews quotes the same words:

"For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord." — Hebrews 10:30 (KJV)

This is not one verse. God has been saying it since the Law.

Look at the verses around Romans 12:19, too:

• Just Before It“Recompense to no man evil for evil.” (Romans 12:17)
• Right After It“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

Getting even does not beat evil. It lets evil win twice.

Your Pain Matters to God

That is not God telling you your pain does not matter. It is God telling you He is already handling it.

God keeps track of every tear. David prayed:

"Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" — Psalm 56:8 (KJV)

Nothing done to you slips past Him.

Even in heaven, the martyrs cry out:

"How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" — Revelation 6:10 (KJV)

God does not scold them for asking. He tells them to “rest yet for a little season” (Revelation 6:11). Justice is coming. It is just on His timetable, not ours.

He Is Already Handling It

Paul told the suffering church in Thessalonica:

"Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels." — 2 Thessalonians 1:6–7 (KJV)

Notice the two things God promises there:

• TroubleFor the ones who troubled you.
• RestFor you.

That is why the psalmist can say:

"Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." — Psalm 37:7–8 (KJV)

Every Enemy Answers to Him

Every enemy who ever hurt you or hurt someone you love, they answer to Him eventually.

"Till I make thine enemies thy footstool." — Luke 20:43 (KJV)

Hebrews describes Jesus seated at the right hand of God:

"From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." — Hebrews 10:13 (KJV)

He is not worried about it. He is waiting on it, because it is certain.

David Would Not Touch Saul

David had every reason to get even. King Saul chased him for years and tried to kill him. Then one day Saul walked into the very cave where David was hiding. David’s men told him this was his chance.

David cut off a piece of Saul’s robe and let him walk out alive. Then he called out to him:

"The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee." — 1 Samuel 24:12 (KJV)

David did not pretend Saul was innocent. He just refused to be the one to settle the score.

Joseph: Am I in the Place of God?

Joseph’s own brothers threw him in a pit and sold him as a slave. Years later, he was second only to Pharaoh, and they were at his mercy. They were terrified he would finally pay them back.

Joseph answered:

"Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good." — Genesis 50:19–20 (KJV)

Jesus Showed Us How

Jesus was mocked, beaten, and crucified. If anyone ever had the right to get even, it was Him. Peter tells us what He did instead:

"Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." — 1 Peter 2:23 (KJV)

He handed it to the Father. And the Father is the one who will make His enemies His footstool.

You Don’t Have to Carry It

You do not have to carry the weight of getting even. He already carries it.

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." — 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

"Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee." — Proverbs 20:22 (KJV)

Giving Place Is Not Staying Silent

Letting go of revenge does not mean hiding what happened or putting up with it. In the very next chapter, Paul says God put governing authorities in place for this reason:

"For he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." — Romans 13:4 (KJV)

If someone is hurting you right now, telling a parent, a pastor, or the proper authorities is not taking revenge. It is letting the people God put in place do their job. Giving place unto wrath means you step back from getting even. It does not mean you stay quiet.

Let It Go

"Till I make thine enemies thy footstool." — Luke 20:43 (KJV)