Proverbs 17:13 

New International Version (NIV)

Evil will never leave the house
    of one who pays back evil for good.

For Meditation

You opened your heart, gave your best to help them, and did not think of payback or reciprocal action when needed. You did it for the love of God. But they have paid you with insults and abuse, betrayal, and lies, and that break your heart. 

You feel hurt, wounded, bitter, and fuming with thoughts of retaliation. You may have made some vows and said, never again!

Well, it’s obvious where you’re coming from. I can feel your pain. It is real, and anyone who dismisses it is insensitive and cruel. I share your horror and disgust, but more than that, Jesus shares and empathizes with you (Heb. 4:14-15). You become like your offender when you give in to bitterness and vengeance. So, don’t go there!

It is a mind game the enemy plays best—a war of attrition — a deliberate attempt to dull your faith, destroy your Christian testimony, and steal your joy. Capitulating to it is equivalent to giving him a winning hand.

The fact is that the responsibility for their action is on them, not you! They think they did it to you, but no! They did it to themselves. As Solomon said, Evil never leaves the house of the one who pays back evil for good (Prov. 17:13). The one who paid you evil for your generosity and kindness has built a shrine of evil in their house that rules over their family affairs. 

What, then, do you do?

First, step out of the ant line and pick off the ones that have crawled on you. You can’t end your pain by hugging the offense. Therefore, step away from the matter and deal with yourself before the Lord.

Joseph suffered excruciating pain when he met his brothers in Egypt. It was like reliving the terrible ordeal he suffered at their hands. His pain intensified the more he spoke to them about their family. So, he stepped away from them into his chamber and cried his hurt and pain out on the Lord who heals and strengthens His wounded children (Gen. 43: 26-31).

Second, ask The Lord to replace your pain with a willing heart to forgive the person (Eph. 4:32). It will heal the wounds in your heart. Joseph struggled with it but forgave his brothers at the end (Gen. 45:4-12).

Third, love them. Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Pt. 4:8). Joseph promised to take care of his brothers despite their cruelty to him (Gen. 45:11). He brought them from their place of lack to a place of abundance in Egypt.

Nothing delights the heart of your deliberate offender than to see you writhing in pain. But see how fast their joy wears off when you choose to forgive and love them.

Fourth, pray for them (Matt. 5:44). Until you forgive with love, you cannot pray for them. A forgiving heart is a chamber for powerful intercession.

How Christlike we become when we live this way—moving from the enemy zone and dealing with our hurts and pain before Him, forgiving, loving, and praying for those who pay us evil for good. As He said on the cross, Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing (Lk. 23:34).