When Forgiveness and Justice Meet


When Forgiveness and Justice Meet

We all deal with human emotions every day. Our feelings get hurt. Pride creeps in. Sometimes we are wrong, and sometimes we feel the desire for revenge. But are these reactions truly what God would have us to do?

I don’t know everything. I have been wrong many times and have made plenty of mistakes. We are human, and because of that, we must always be growing in the Lord—remaining humble, teachable, and willing to be corrected.

God Is Just, Even When We Must Wait

Jesus reminds us in Luke 18:7–8:

“And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?”

God is a God of justice. He sees what we cannot see and knows what we do not know. He is not blind to wrongdoing, and He does not ignore the cries of His people. Vengeance belongs to Him—not to us.

Forgiveness Does Not Mean Denying Harm

Scripture is very clear that we are called to forgive. If we do not forgive those who have harmed us, we ourselves will not be forgiven. That brings up a hard but honest question: How do we reconcile forgiveness with justice?

How do we pray when someone has hurt us deeply?

Is it wrong to pray that someone be stopped from harming others?
Is it wrong to pray that they face consequences, yet still come to repentance?
Is it right to pray that God place them where they can no longer cause harm, while still praying for their salvation?

Praying for Justice Without Revenge

I believe this can be a just prayer—but only when God is the one leading it.

We must be honest with the Lord about any unforgiveness that remains in our hearts. God already knows it is there. When we bring it to Him openly, He can help us overcome it. He can shape our prayers so they are rooted in humility rather than pride, and in trust rather than revenge.

The Heart God Honors

Jesus addressed the condition of the heart in Luke 18:9–14, in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.’
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

If we want to be led by God and truly please Him, we must remain humble. We are human, and we are not always right. It is our responsibility to listen for God’s voice and walk humbly—whether we are in the wrong or even when we believe we are in the right.

Trusting God With Our Emotions

Pride comes before a fall. A heart filled with love is the best defense against pride taking root. To be humble is to become as a little child.

Jesus said in Luke 18:17:

“Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”

God has given us clear instruction through His commandments—to love Him above all else, to speak truth, to honor our parents, to turn away from sin, and to keep our hearts centered on Him. Much of what we see in the world today goes against what God teaches, and we must be careful not to let our emotions, fear, or pride pull us away from His Word.

Trust in the Lord. Put your faith in Him to defend you, guide you, and carry you through. With everything going on, it may seem impossible from a human standpoint—but nothing is impossible with God.

Jesus said in Luke 18:27:

“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

I hope this helps someone today. Writing this helped me slow down, search my own heart, and trust God more fully. Sometimes putting things into words is part of how God teaches us.

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