I may regret this post later. I’m going to be honest. Revenge is tempting. Right now. I’m wedged between tears and anger, vomiting and screaming.
I have the platform to spew out my side of the story and set the record straight. I have publishers that have asked me to share my story.
But as temporarily satisfying as that would be, I won’t. Not now. Not with the current state of my heart.
This verse, gives me pause. It helps me get my head on straight and lifts my chin back up to look in my Father’s face.
“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.” Luke 6:27-30
So I’m writing this to you, thinking maybe you can relate. If not today, another time perhaps. And I hope this gives you encouragement to know that you’re not alone.
As I wrote in yesterday’s post:
“We’re all tired of the cookie cutter Christian woman, we want real. We want honest. We want raw. We want to see the broken bloody parts, only then will we see the power of grace make a difference. We need to know we’re not alone in our messes.”
I’m bleeding today, but once I made the decision to put it in God’s hands, I felt His grace. Peace came back and I know that He is healing those wounds.
As tempting as revenge is, I know it’s empty and damaging. I’ve learned that the hard way.
The most wonderful part of being at this place in my journey with God is that I have such an amazing sense of His love and presence in my life, that even though life can break my heart, it can never take away the peace that an honest relationship with God has brought into my life.
I don’t serve Him to get anything but Him. I didn’t used to be able to say that. Position meant everything, titles ruled my life.
I’ve been considering (for a couple months now) taking a hiatus from all things Praise and Coffee. I haven’t made any decisions about it yet, but it gives me such joy to know that stepping away from Praise and Coffee would not be a step away from ME. My identity is found in the love the Father has for me and no title gives or takes that away. I believe that we all need to occasionally put our “stuff” (ministries etc) on the altar as Abraham did with Isaac and make sure it’s not becoming an idol before our God.
Anyways…
Thanks for listening, any thoughts on revenge and how God has walked you through this temptation?
EDIT: I wrote this today to clarify some of the things in this post.
