How Do We Repay Evil

The natural man wants to repay evil for evil. When we are wronged, we want the other person to feel the same pain they have made us feel. I remember when my first marriage ended many years ago my world felt as if it was over. The pain that I had was beyond comprehension. It was as if a knife was stabbed in my heart. The pain was that real. Many nights I didn't sleep. I would wake up sobbing. Here I was a 27 year old single mother of a two year old. How would I survive? Who would want me now? As I wandered around at 2:00 am I rationalized in my victimized mind that I was feeling this pain because of him and I was awake because of him, so why should he be having a good nights sleep? I would then call my husband's number and hang up when he answered!!! There! I admit it! Thank goodness those were the days before call display. I'm sure he figured it out after I did it half a dozen times through those first few months. I wanted him to suffer in some way. I laugh about it now but isn't that how the world operates?
In our Sunday School today part of our lesson was on overcoming evil. The number one principle for overcoming evil is "Take the Offensive". Romans 12:21 says, "Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good". That's sometimes a tough thing to do. But like the lesson said, we can't defeat evil by focusing on the evil forces. Did my phone calling at 2:00 am do anything to my ex-husband in adultery? Not really. It probably just made him happier that he left me!
Evil is a real and powerful force. but it can be defeated by focusing on good. We don't have to fear evil. We don't have to fear Satan if we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He has the victory over Satan by His death on the cross. Satan may seem powerful at times, but God's power is far greater.
If we are faced with a confrontation, the lesson states that we are to picture ourselves as "Rescued". 2 Timothy 4:18 says, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." and Galatians 1:4 says, "who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father"
The Lord wants us to have victory in our lives. If we stew and worry about the attacks of the enemy, we will be stuck in fear and victory will seem impossible. When I am tired and depressed, it is easy for me to listen to the lies of Satan. He will tell me I'm worthless and unworthy and I will start to believe him. Proclaiming the power of Christ is the way to overcome evil. Satan is a liar and a deceiver. He has lost this one and he knows it!!