What does the Bible say about God’s revenge?
When someone deeply wounds you, it’s tempting to hurt them back. You rehearse the injustice in your mind, planning what you should’ve said or imagining how they’ll finally get what’s coming. But when God steps into that pain, he says something very different: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:19).
This is a story about Leslie, a woman who was betrayed, misunderstood, and slandered. But through her journey, God whispered again and again: “Don’t worry. Revenge is mine. I will repay them for you.”
1. When Your Reputation Is Unfairly Attacked, God Says, “I Will Repay Them for You”
Leslie had given everything to her ministry job—late nights, long emails, and coffee after coffee with hurting women. But after a misunderstanding with a coworker named Brandy, gossip started to spread. Within weeks, the leadership team questioned Leslie’s “emotional stability.” She hadn’t done anything wrong, but her name was dragged through the mud anyway.
Leslie wanted to defend herself, to march into meetings and demand justice. But in prayer, she kept sensing God say, “Let me speak for you.”
Psalm 37:6, “He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”
It felt like trying to wash a white shirt with muddy hands—the more she tried to clean it, the worse it looked. Only God had clean hands for the job.
So she waited. And God moved. Within months, the truth emerged through another staff member who confirmed Leslie’s side. Leadership apologized. Brandy eventually resigned. Leslie didn’t need to take revenge—God’s justice worked in ways she never could’ve planned.
2. When They Move On Like They Didn’t Sin Against You, God Says, “I Will Repay Them for You”
Later that year, Leslie entered a serious relationship with a man named Jason. They talked about marriage. They prayed together. He met her family. But one day, without warning, he texted her, “I’m just not feeling it anymore.” A week later, he was posting pictures with someone new.
Leslie was crushed. The betrayal stung, but what hurt more was how easily he moved on.
She wanted to message the girl. Expose him. Tell his church. But God pressed a verse deep into her soul:
Proverbs 20:22, “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.”
It was like watching someone throw a boomerang into the sky. Leslie wanted to chase it, but God told her, “That thing’s going to come back on its own.”
A year later, Jason’s new relationship imploded. The girl posted publicly about his manipulative patterns. Meanwhile, Leslie had found healing and grown closer to God than ever before. God had repaid—without her lifting a finger.
3. When Forgiveness Feels Impossible, God Says, “I Will Repay Them for You”
Forgiving Brandy was hard. Forgiving Jason was worse. But the deepest betrayal came from someone Leslie never expected: her older sister, Monica.
Monica had always been the golden child. But when Leslie finally got the opportunity to publish a devotional she’d written, Monica posted a passive-aggressive blog implying Leslie had plagiarized content from others—something untrue and unprovoked. Friends whispered. Opportunities paused.
This time, Leslie was done. She had emails, timestamps, and receipts. She wanted to expose Monica’s jealousy and clear her name.
But God led her to this verse:
Romans 12:17, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.”
God showed her a mirror. “You can’t clean your own reflection by smashing someone else’s,” he said. Leslie realized she was dirtying herself by trying to retaliate.
Instead of revenge, she forgave. It didn’t excuse Monica’s actions, but it released Leslie’s heart from the toxic prison of bitterness. Months later, Monica apologized in tears. She had been secretly dealing with depression and envy. The broken sisterhood began to mend; and not because Leslie fought for justice, but because she surrendered it all to God.
4. When Justice Takes Longer Than You Expected, God Says, “I Will Repay Them for You”
Years passed. Leslie healed. She was married now, counseling young women, and watching God use her story. But one day, she saw a ministry announcement: Brandy was leading a large conference for women.
The same woman who gossiped about her, lied about her character, and walked away with no accountability.
Leslie’s old emotions stirred up again. “God, why do they prosper while I waited in pain?”
But this time, God didn’t remove the discomfort. He taught her something deeper:
Psalm 37:1-2, “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.”
God showed her a garden. “You’re a tree planted by streams of water. They’re wildflowers in shallow soil. Let me handle the seasons.”
Brandy’s conference was short-lived. It fizzled within the year after ethical concerns were raised. But more importantly, Leslie no longer needed to see the fall. She had peace whether or not it came. God had grown her roots deep, and that was justice enough.
Trusting God’s Justice Brings Peace
If you’re in Leslie’s shoes—betrayed, wounded, misunderstood—remember: God sees what they did. He knows how deeply it hurt. And he promises, “Vengeance is mine. I will repay.”
But his justice isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s hidden, slow, even silent for a while. But it’s always true. When you entrust your pain to him, you don’t just let go of revenge—you receive healing.
God doesn’t forget injustice. But he doesn’t want you to be consumed by it either. As you wait, watch, and forgive, he’ll whisper what he once whispered to Leslie, “Don’t worry. Revenge is mine. I will repay them for you.”
