Let Go and Let God Heal You

Judges 15:3 NIV

Samson said to them, "This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them."

Judges 15:10 NIV

The people of Judah asked, "Why have you come to fight us?" "We have come to take Samson prisoner," they answered, "to do to him as he did to us."

Judges 15:6-7 NIV

When the Philistines asked, "Who did this?" they were told, "Samson, the Timnite's son-in-law, because his wife was given to his companion." So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death. Samson said to them, "Since you've acted like this, I swear that I won't stop until I get my revenge on you."

The above verses show that revenge is a killer…literally. The story of Samson includes more revenge as the story unfolds even further. Revenge and hatred seem to go hand-in-hand. When I think of all the years of discord in the Old Testament, I can’t help but wonder how difficult it must have been not to know Jesus. The people of that time had no example to follow when emotions and events got out of hand.

When I came to know Jesus and accepted Him into my life, I was given a blueprint through His example of how to keep harmful emotions at bay. But I can't follow Jesus if I don't know who He is and to know Him, I need to read God's Word and study and imitate His ways.

God's Message:

Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it.
(1 Peter 3:8-9)

My Prayer:

Father, I know there are times when I get angry but then I remember that Jesus was angry at the people in the temple who were buying and selling goods there. While He overturned the table of goods, His anger never turned to hatred. Instead, he recalled Your Word to instruct them. Immediately following those verses Jesus, once again began healing the blind and the lame. Help me to follow in His footsteps. Please give me the ability to deal with my anger in a healthy way so I can let go and move on. I ask this in the name of Jesus.