If you have ever been in a situation where you have been the victim of a crime, whether it is violent or not, or simply of a grave injustice, there are decisions that you face as a born again child of God as to what to do and how to react. What should be our attitude toward the one who has harmed us? What is the biblical approach? What is the Lord saying to me personally in this case?
One issue that must be dealt with is the desire to take revenge. Revenge is a natural reaction of the flesh that springs up without needing to be summoned. We either stand against this natural inclination, or we give into it, feeling fully justified because of the pain and suffering inflicted on us. But if we allow the desire for revenge to overcome us, we have forgotten the injunction of God, "Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, 'I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord'" (Romans 12:19).
We ourselves must make the decision to forgive and to put the situation into the hands of God. It is an act of the will. Our focus then turns in another direction, and the Lord can actually give us a burden to pray for the one who has hurt us, and for his or her salvation. Forgiveness accomplishes several very important purposes:
It keeps our minds stable and focused on God.
It allows us to heal.
It releases the hand of God to work in the perpetrator's life.
The fact that we have forgiven does not mean that we should not take the appropriate legal action or act responsibly for the good of society and others who have also been affected. But as we do, our hearts will be in the right place, and our priorities will be established. We will be able to hear the Lord's voice and to make right decisions that will bring glory to his name.