The Holiday season often brings unexpected pain. We’re left out of gatherings we used to be a part of, or we have to join ones that include people who’ve wronged us. If this season has stirred some hurtful emotions, I hope this post I’m bringing back will help.
Some people have no conscience. The woman who stole your husband parades around the family reunion showing off your grandchild! The man who stabbed you in the back preaches unity and love to your team. They wronged you. Now they pour acid in your wound and dare you to flinch.
How do we handle such injuries? Some biblical wisdom and J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings have helped me.
Biblical Guidance:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse… Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 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. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:14, 17-21, NIV).
When I’m reeling from being wronged, these are not my favorite verses. Who blesses their persecutor? We’re more likely to “Bless them out.”
The last verse provides a powerful reason to heed this wisdom—so we won’t be overcome by evil.
Frodo and the Ringwraiths
In The Lord of the Rings, the daunting task of destroying an evil ring fell upon Frodo the hobbit. The Dark Lord turns his power against Frodo and sends a group of Ringwraiths to attack him and his companions early in his venture. Ringwraiths are “the Enemy’s most terrible servants; darkness went with them, and they cried with the voices of death.”[1]
A Ringwraith pierces Frodo’s shoulder with a poisonous sword. If poison remains in Frodo he will become a Ringwraith. If bitterness remains in the wounded, they become evildoers.
If poison remains in Frodo he will become a Ringwraith. If bitterness remains in the wounded, they become evildoers. Share on XWho hasn’t wrestled with this? When someone wrongs us, it seems only fair that they hurt as much as they hurt us.
The problem—we can’t handle the role of avenger. Only God can wield vengeance and not be destroyed by it.
God’s mandate to forgive is practical. When we overcome evil with good—
- We will be greatly rewarded and show the world that we belong to God ( Luke 6:35).
- We won’t become Ringwraiths who poison others (Hebrews 12:15).
- We’ll become like Christ (Luke 23:34).
While forgiveness protects our hearts, it doesn’t necessarily touch the perpetrator’s heart. The Ringwraiths in Lord of the Rings stayed evil. If Frodo had tried to become their buddies, they would have stabbed him again. The Apostle Paul understood this (2 Timothy 4:14-15).
However, scales fell off the eyes of a good king who’d been deceived by the Dark Lord. Some who injure us will eventually be freed from their darkness. Only God can see who is entrapped by evil and who is evil. That’s another reason why He is the only one who can correctly avenge the wrongs committed against us.
God has promised to bless those who bless us and curse those who curse us. He will repay fairly.
The next time someone pokes your wound, remember—
- Whose child you are
- Frodo and the Ringwraiths
- Christ on the cross forgiving you
Bitterness disfigures its victims and makes them servants of the Dark Lord. Forgiveness transforms us into the image of Christ.
Bitterness disfigures its victims. Forgiveness transforms us into the image of Christ. #forgive Share on XTo learn more about forgiveness you might enjoy some posts from my Forgiveness Brings Freedom Series. Here is a sampling: part 10, Part 7.
Let’s not let anyone steal our joy. Jesus gives us the power to forgive and move on.
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Blessings,
Debbie W. Wilson
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazg%C3%BBl
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I think the most difficult lesson I have learned in trying to live Romans 12, is “overcoming evil with good” is about God transforming me into His image, not changing the person who injured me. Thank you for encouraging us to do right when we have been wronged-it is so contrary to our human nature!
Praying for you!
Michele, you are right. God uses even the wrongs others commit against us for our eternal good. Something to cling to when we are hurt. Love hearing from you and always appreciate your prayers!
“Only God can see who is entrapped by evil and who is evil. ” Wow Debbie – very insightful and a very important distinction, which as you clearly said, only God can know.
Thank you, Ann.
DITTO and AMEN, Ann!!!! YES to powerful truth! <3 Thank you, Debbie!
Thank you, Fuller. Merry Christmas!
Interesting analogy, especially for me, since I’ve been a Tolkien fan ever since discovering The Hobbit in fifth grade. Although I’ve never considered it in terms of Frodo’s poisoned Morgul blade, the principle is the same: If you hold bitterness in your heart, it will eat away inside you like acid, but it won’t hurt at all the object of your bitterness. In order to survive, we must get rid of the bitterness, letting God heal the wound.
Thanks for sharing!
BTW, my wife and I had the unexpected pleasure of chatting with actor Billy Boyd (aka, Pippin) last week in Hollywood. At a gala dinner, he strolled over and asked if he could join our table. Fun. 🙂
Rick, I just found your comment. How cool you got to meet “Pippin”!
Debbie, this past Sunday I listened to Brooklyn Tabernacle
Webcast. Pastor Jim Cymbala’s
message was “Bitter Root”. It was convicting & freeing – so relevant as we walk through this
Christmas season & in the days
ahead. It goes along with your
message today. Thank-you!
Marilyn, thank you for letting me know about that. I would like to listen to him. I appreciate you sharing that with all of us.
“The problem—we can’t handle the role of avenger. Only God can wield vengeance and not be destroyed by it.”
“Only God can see who is entrapped by evil and who is evil”
This post was so helpful to me and a direct answer to prayer! Thank you, Debbie!
Praise the Lord for answering your prayer! Blessings to you Heather.
I didn’t remember that part of the LOTR story, thank you for sharing it and applying it!
Thank you, Bethany, for reading. 🙂
“Bitterness disfigures its victims and makes them servants of the Dark Lord. Forgiveness transforms us into the image of Christ.” Love this!! So true and so well spoken. Thanks so much for this
Thank you, Gretchen!