Revenge is mine

There have been a few times in my life when I have felt I deserve to get back at someone.  They offended me so much it deserved a response from me.  There are times even here at camp that I feel justified enough to get back at someone and take my revenge.  For instance, when I was the host a counselor pulled a prank on me; a couple of pranks actually.  I was pretty upset, and decided to get back at them for what they did to me.  By the end of the week I had managed to get back at them in a way that stopped all pranks that summer.  I felt justified in getting back, but as I look back upon that act now, I regret it.

What stood out to me?  Proverbs 20: 22 says, "Do not say, 'I will repay evil;' Wait for the Lord, and He will save you."

Why did this stick out to me today?  This stuck out to me today because I can become so justified in my anger or my desire to get back at someone that I will do whatever is necessary to make them feel worse than I do.  I want to get even.  I want to show them why not to mess with me.  I can be very vindictive at times. 

How will I apply this passage in my life?  This verse speaks directly against everything in me.  My natural response is to want to get back at people.  But, that is not how God wants me to respond.  He wants me to wait for His direction and guidance.  That always means giving people the benefit of the doubt and responding to situations free from a desire to get back.  This is difficult for me.  I want to get even, and I want to be feared and respected; but not coming from a fear of retaliation. 

So how about you?  How do you respond when people offend you?

In His service, Crazy Pete