Resentment Is Not Your Calling
- August 13, 2025
I love a good revenge story.
The kind where the protagonist rises from betrayal, outsmarts the villain, and walks away with poetic justice. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching someone reclaim their power.
But even in those stories, I always feel a little tired. Because while the counterattack is thrilling, it’s also exhausting. I find myself rooting not for the revenge—but for the moment the character chooses peace. When they stop chasing the person who hurt them and start living for themselves.
That’s the real victory.
The Cost of Carrying Resentment
Resentment feels justified. You were wronged. Lied to. Betrayed. And now, you carry the weight of that injustice like armor. But here’s what resentment actually does:
• It drains your energy. (You replay the offense over and over, keeping the wound fresh.)
• It distorts your relationships. (You judge others through the lens of your pain, assuming everyone is out to get you.)
• It isolates you. (You pull away, mistrustful and guarded, convinced no one understands.)
• It hardens your heart. (You become bitter, cynical, and emotionally exhausted.)
And worst of all? It robs you of the life God intended for you.
Forgiveness Is a Command, Not a Suggestion
Believe it or not forgiveness isn’t optional. It’s a literal command. The Bible doesn’t say “forgive if you feel like it.” It says:
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” — Luke 6:37 (As in you’re only forgiven a much as you forgive. So don’t go staking your life and forgiveness on others. You forgive first and let the rest go!)
“Bear with each other and forgive one another… Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” — Colossians 3:13 (If the Lord of all creation can forgive your dumb decisions and actions REPEATEDLY! I think we can do the same with each other. It’s called having mercy. Being merciful.)
Forgiveness is not about letting someone off the hook. It’s about taking yourself off the hook. It’s about releasing the role of judge and handing it to God. And let’s be clear:
Forgiveness DOES NOT mean trust.
Trust is earned. Forgiveness is given. You can forgive someone and still set boundaries. You can release the resentment without reopening the door.
Healing Comes Through Helping
Even if you’re not fully healed, your story can still help someone else. There’s power in saying, “I’ve been there.” There’s healing in sharing your pain with a trusted person. There’s restoration in using your hurt to lift someone else out of theirs.
So if you’re tired of being angry. Tired of carrying the weight. Tired of living a life shaped by what someone else did to you— Give it to God. Let Him restore what was broken. Let Him be the one to deal with those who hurt you. And start living for you again.
Conclusion
It’ll be hard for some and easy for others. But it’s all worth it in the end. Can you imagine the relief?! The freedom?! That heavy burden slipping away?! I’ve felt it. it’s such a feeling I truly have no words.
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28–30
The “yoke” here symbolizes partnership and surrender—Jesus isn’t asking us to carry nothing, but to carry with Him. His yoke replaces the crushing weight of self-reliance, guilt, resentment, or religious performance with a shared rhythm of grace and rest.
And remember, even if it feels like you’re drowning and/or always drained and tired, He’s always there and willing to share your load!
