Giving Up Our Right to Get Even - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - February 6, 2026
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord”-Romans 12:19
It’s fallen human nature to want to get even with those who hurt us. It’s evident from the earliest of ages, seen in toddlers who hit other toddlers who take their toys away.
Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned, he pointed his finger at her, passing the buck so that she was in line to receive God’s wrath for what they did, as Genesis 3:12, recorded: “The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’”
So, from the beginning, within the fallen human heart, is the desire to get even and make those pay who’ve hurt, misled, stolen, and more to us. It’s an emotion that all of us have to resist and deal with at times in our lives, whether we admit it or not.
Someone Needs to Pay
Because sin does require someone to pay to make things right, we often think it’s up to us to be the ones to make others pay. But no matter how hurt by others or sinned against by them, God makes it clear in His word that this right belongs to Him alone.
As Proverbs 20:22 instructs, “Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the Lord, and He will avenge you.’”
As much as we might feel justified in seeking our own revenge, only God has the right to bestow it.
The Righteous Wrath of God
Much of the world doesn’t believe God has a right to make us pay for our sin but the Apostle Paul spells it out in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
But the wrath of God is so misunderstood, of those believing it just referring to an angry God rather than a just, righteous, and holy God whose very nature requires His wrath to receive payment for sin, and all that is evil.
It’s challenging for us to understand it, perhaps because we have a minimal perception of the darkest evil and the purest holiness.
God has every right to require us to pay for our sin, to disown and destroy us for bringing sin into His perfect world creation, but He didn’t. Instead, He provided a plan of redemption to redeem us and pay for our sin Himself.
As Jesus explains in John 3:36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
Yet many resist and reject His plan of Salvation, thinking they don’t need it and are content with their own sense of justice.
Paul in Romans 5:9 reminds us, “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!”
Called to Love, Not to Avenge
God calls us to love, not avenge ourselves, as Leviticus 19:18 instructs us, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
As well, in 1 Peter 3:9, we’re told, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
Jesus said Himself in Matthew 5:44, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Again, in Luke 6:22, Jesus commanded, “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”
Jesus not only proclaimed it, but He demonstrated it, living it out publicly before us, for all to see, as described in 1 Peter 2:23: “When they hurled their insults at Him, he did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.”
We are called to entrust our hope of vengeance to God, the holy, just, and righteous judge.
We Can Do Better
As Jesus showed us, we as Christians can do better by giving up our right to get even. Often, our need to get even and prove ourselves right stems from a prideful heart rather than a heart that trusts God to be the righteous judge.
As 1 Corinthians 6:7 explains, there is a better way where we don’t have to go after our own revenge: “The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?”
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father, help us to entrust our hurts and disappointments to You, trusting You as our just and righteous judge to settle and make things right with those who have wounded and stolen from us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/ipopba
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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