In high school, my gym teacher didn’t like me. I don’t know why. Maybe because I was shy, had the same name as him, or because I wasn't good at sports.

I received a lot of painful comments for every little failure. I could never run, jump or throw a ball correctly. Every lesson I got laughed at and criticized. One day I somehow knocked over the cup of patience, and my teacher yelled at me in front of all of my classmates, ashamed of my lack of improvement. He commanded me to leave.

At the time, I was a newborn believer. My heart was full of excitement to learn about Jesus. I was fascinated by the radical love He was constantly showing and teaching people.

The principle that struck me the most was the invitation to love our enemies. I’m not saying that my gym teacher was my enemy, but he was the closest thing I had. I got excited to be able to practise this radical love!

For some reason, I think no one is your enemy before you’re angry with them. I wasn’t angry at my teacher, but frustrated, confused and disappointed at myself. The harsh comments I received from him had some truth to them, but they weren’t said in the best way possible.

After that one outburst of anger, my teacher didn’t change toward me. He continued to be critical and disappointed in me. But I changed toward him. I decided in my heart to never repay him for what he did. I chose to continue to treat my teacher with respect. I continued greeting him every time I met him. Never got an answer, though.

Months flew by, and the school year finished. The next year, I had another gym teacher. I got to practise showing respect to my old teacher only in the corridors.

One day, one of my classmates shared some rumors. He said that during one of the lessons, my old gym teacher hit a student. My heart sank. I never wanted a bad outcome, but it was obvious I wasn’t the only one getting affected by his anger attacks. Soon after I found out that, my old teacher was fired from the school.

Only God can change the heart so that it doesn’t want evil for those who do us wrong.

The only revenge we are called to commit

You might be thinking, ‘Why does the title include the mention of revenge when you didn’t repay your teacher for the wrong he did?’

The reality is that my teacher had a hurting heart. It so happened that I was chosen to be his target to relieve anger and frustration. Was that right? No, but it’s understandable. The enemy did something bad to him. And I didn’t want to make any of his wounds bigger.

I did repay someone else. The one who is actually responsible for evil — the devil.

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9, ESV)

Repaying evil for evil will only make it grow. Repaying evil with good is the only means to destroy it and stop the spread.

I know the empowering feeling revenge offers to your hurt emotions. But enacting it will never truly satisfy your desire for justice. If you do something bad to those who wronged you, you won’t get real satisfaction.

Doing good brings more pleasure than you can ever expect. It will also give you revenge over the one who is actually responsible, instead of shooting the hurting person one more time.

Choosing to avenge evil by doing good will make you see how the darkness crumbles apart. It can’t stand the light.

No one loved you when you were a child? Show love to a child in your life. Someone treats you badly? Be kind to that person. The leadership doesn’t see your value? Make sure you respect them. No one helped you in your time of need? Be on the lookout to help others.

In practicing this, you show who the Boss is. You show that love rules your heart. You show that you follow Jesus, who loved the world even though it was against Him.

Don’t ever think that love has no power

I’m not finished. There’s still a dessert!

A couple of years passed by, and I got to meet my old teacher on the street. He recognized me and greeted me first.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7, ESV)

I cannot express how I felt after that instance. I could barely walk home without crying and worshipping God. It was the last time I saw my teacher, and God made sure I knew the impact my choice had.

This event made a huge impact on me as a young believer. It showed me that repaying good for evil teaches people a much better lesson than worldly revenge could ever convey.

The best part is that every one of us can play a part in eradicating evil. It’s our choice which side we want to empower.

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