When you feel attacked...dealing with anger

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

What do you when you feel attacked?  How do you handle treatment that feels like constant harassment and belittling of one’s identity? How do handle the rage, frustration, hurt and disappointment of betrayal by both friend and foe?  What do you do when everything within you wants to go on the offense and find a way to repay them for their deeds; to get even?

Well, I have heard it said the best offense is a good defense! 

First, we must guard our hearts against all roots of bitterness.  

Bitterness must not be allowed to take root in our hearts because it will only lead to more trouble ( Hebrews 12:15). Bitterness will cause us to put aside self-control.  It can cause us to corrupt our speech and damage our testimony. Affecting not only ourselves, but the body of believers.  We have to rely on the grace of God and extend it to others.  

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.-Hebrews 12:15

Next, we have to leave room for God to do His Work. We have stay within the boundaries that He has given us and trust that He is the only offense we need.  He says vengeance is mine! ( Romans 12:19) It’s not our job to repay someone for their choices to harm or hurt.  It’s not our job to make them feel our pain.  

Our job is to block the seeds of division and strife.  Our job is to pass love and peace even to those who would despise us and despitefully use us (Matthew  5:44). Our job is to wait on Him to prepare a table  for us in the presence of our enemies ( Psalm 23:5) Our job is to trust Him to be God and all of our anxiety, anger and pain onto Him ( 1 Peter 5:7).  Keeping our hearts pure so that His blessings of love, grace, and peace can flow ( John 16:33). We can take heart and let the anger and bitterness fall by the wayside.

Father,  I admit I often want to attack those who seek to hurt me.  But thine will is to be done. So help me to pray for them instead.  May I not let my anger be turned into a weapon the  enemy uses to try to harm and destroy.  Give me an increase of self-control.  May I bless and not curse. May I not root for those who curse as my flesh would desire because I am angry.  Let me do things a better way, your way.  May I thirst for more of You rather than vengeance.  In Jesus name. Amen