Revenge is Not the Answer

Choose the path of peace—even when retaliation feels justified.

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
(1 John 4:20)

I’m always in the mood for a good prank. My mother-in-law was famous for her ability to pull off great April Fool’s Day jokes on her family, and that may be one of the reasons we got along so well over the years.

Pranks and jokes are generally harmless and can even teach us lessons about life. For example, in the movie Sister Act, one of the nuns who was chronically late for morning activities received a cute alarm clock as a “present.” The prank was lighthearted, memorable, and effective.

Pranks can have their place—they can spice up life or gently reinforce proper behavior. But when a prank moves beyond fun and turns into vengeance, that’s where trouble begins.

While revenge may feel good in the moment, it ultimately hurts both the giver and the receiver. Revenge, at its core, is an act of hate, and its impact on the soul is profound. Worse still, when revenge is carried out, innocent people are often hurt along the way. In the end, revenge almost never turns out the way it was intended.

Jesus taught us better ways to handle conflict and injustice.

Turn the Other Cheek

This is one of Jesus’ hardest teachings. When He said that if someone strikes you on the right cheek, you should turn the other cheek, He wasn’t promoting weakness. He was teaching us to pause instead of retaliating, and to respond with kindness and compassion rather than anger. More often than not, such a response completely disarms the other person and breaks the cycle of hostility.

Forgive Them

Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse bad behavior, but it does release us from the grip of bitterness. Forgiveness has the power to defuse tense situations and open the door to calm, meaningful resolution.

Look for a Creative Response

Many disputes persist because both sides see only two options: I’m right and you’re wrong. Jesus invites us to find a third way. Creative, grace-filled responses interrupt cycles of anger and hatred and make room for reconciliation and justice.

Find the Middle Ground

This requires humility and effort. We must immerse ourselves in God’s Word and seek His wisdom rather than clinging to extremes. As my wife often says, the truth is frequently found somewhere in the middle of opposing positions. When we seek that truth together, both sides can walk away not as losers, but as people shaped more closely into the likeness of Christ.

Revenge promises satisfaction but delivers destruction. Jesus offers us something better: transformation, peace, and a way of living that reflects the heart of God.

Let’s try doing it Jesus’ way for a while and see what happens.

Have a GREAT week!
Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley