What it’s like to move from vengeance to victory.
by James Anderson* as told to Leslie Williams
The summer rain pelted against my office window as I stared at the email that would change my life. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, trembling with anger as I contemplated my response.
After fifteen years of building my marketing business from scratch, my closest friend and business partner had secretly been diverting clients to his own venture.
The betrayal cut deep, but the timing was even worse. My wife had just been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, and our savings were stretched thin with medical bills.
Taste of revenge
“I’ll destroy him,” I whispered through clenched teeth, already drafting a mental list of every client contact, every industry connection I could warn about his duplicity. I had enough evidence to ruin his reputation and possibly pursue legal action. The bitter taste of revenge felt oddly satisfying.
But God had other plans.
Innocent question
That evening, as I sat in my home office plotting my counterattack, my twelve-year-old daughter, Sarah, walked in. She’d been reading her Bible for a school assignment and had a question that would shake my world.
“Dad, what does Jesus mean when He says we should forgive seventy times seven? That’s a lot of forgiving.”
Hypocrisy
I tried to explain the concept while avoiding her innocent eyes. The words felt hollow as they left my mouth, knowing the vengeful thoughts that had consumed me all day. “Well, honey, Jesus wants us to forgive others just like He forgave us. . . .”
“Like when Tommy stole my lunch money last week, and you told me to pray for him instead of getting mad?” she asked.
Her simple question pierced my heart like an arrow. Here I was, teaching my daughter about forgiveness and mercy, while harboring thoughts of revenge that were eating me alive. The hypocrisy of it all suddenly became clear.
Kingdom quality
That night, I couldn’t sleep. My wife, Lisa, despite her own battle with cancer, noticed my restlessness. “What’s wrong, James?” she asked, her voice weak but filled with concern.
As I shared the situation with her, she reached for my hand. “Remember what Pastor Mike said last week about mercy being a hallmark of God’s kingdom? Maybe this is your opportunity to show what kingdom people really look like.”
I scoffed. “Lisa, he’s potentially ruining our business. How can I just let that go?”
“The same way Christ let go of our sins,” she replied softly. “Besides, being bitter won’t help my healing or our family’s peace.”
Crossroads
Her words hit home. I realized I stood at a crossroads. I could either embrace the world’s way of revenge and retaliation or choose the kingdom way of mercy and forgiveness.
The decision wouldn’t be easy, but it would define who I really was as a follower of Christ.
Stressful meeting
The next morning, I did something that seemed foolish by worldly standards. Instead of sending the scathing email I had drafted, I asked my former partner to meet me for coffee. My hands shook as I drove to the café, my heart racing with anxiety and residual anger.
When Mark walked in, I could see the guilt and fear in his eyes. He knew I had discovered his betrayal. Before he could speak, I said something that surprised us both: “I forgive you.”
Losing the burden
The look of shock on his face mirrored my own internal struggle. This wasn’t what he expected. It wasn’t what I expected either. But as the words left my mouth, I felt a weight lifting from my shoulders.
“I don’t understand,” he stammered. “You should be furious. You should be suing me.”
“You’re right,” I replied. “But I serve a King who showed me mercy when I deserved judgment. I’m choosing to do the same.”
Through God’s eyes
What happened next demonstrated God’s kingdom principles in action. Mark broke down and shared how his marriage was falling apart, and he’d made desperate decisions trying to provide for his children through a looming divorce.
His actions weren’t justified, but understanding his struggle helped me see him through God’s eyes — as a broken person in need of grace, just like me.
Restoration and peace
Over the next few months, something remarkable happened. Instead of destroying each other’s businesses, we found a way to collaborate that benefited both companies. Mark recommitted his life to Christ and eventually reconciled with his wife. Our friendship, though different, was restored on a foundation of honesty and grace.
But the real miracle happened in my own heart. As I chose mercy over vengeance, I discovered a peace that transcended my circumstances. This new perspective transformed how I handled other challenges, especially as we continued to navigate my wife’s cancer journey.
Kingdom principles
Lisa’s treatment was difficult, but our home became filled with an inexplicable joy. Our daughter watched as we chose to trust God and extend mercy in situations where the world would expect bitterness. She saw kingdom principles lived out in real time.
“Dad,” Sarah said one evening as we sat by her mother’s hospital bed, “I get it now — why Jesus talks so much about forgiveness. It’s not just about the other person; it’s about what happens inside us too.”
Sarah was right. Choosing mercy had changed me fundamentally. I noticed I was quicker to forgive, slower to get angry, and more attuned to others’ pain. Clients commented on the difference in my leadership style. Fellow church members began seeking advice about their own struggles with forgiveness.
Testimony
Three years have passed since that rainy summer day when I nearly chose revenge over mercy. Lisa is now cancer free, and our business has grown in ways I never expected. Mark and I still work together, and our story has become a testimony to God’s transforming power.
Recently, I was asked to share my experience at a men’s retreat. Looking out at the faces of businessmen struggling with their own battles, I spoke this truth: “Kingdom mercy isn’t weakness — it’s revolutionary strength. It’s choosing to fight darkness with light, hate with love, and vengeance with grace. It’s living as citizens of heaven while walking on earth.”
Turning point
The choice to show mercy when everything in me wanted revenge marked a turning point in my spiritual journey. It taught me that being part of God’s kingdom means more than just believing the right things. It means living differently in a world that celebrates retaliation.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7, NIV). I’ve discovered this isn’t just a promise for the future; it’s a present reality for those who dare to live as kingdom people. When we choose mercy, we don’t just change situations; we’re changed ourselves, transformed more into the image of our merciful King.
Kingdom people
Today, whenever I’m tempted to respond to hurt with hatred, I remember that rainy summer day and my daughter’s innocent question about forgiveness. I remember that as kingdom people, we’re called to be different – to show the world a better way, God’s way. In a culture that screams for vengeance, mercy speaks with a quiet power that transforms lives, one grace-filled choice at a time.
The truth is, mercy isn’t just an attribute of God’s kingdom. It’s a revolutionary force that changes hearts and rewrites stories. When we choose mercy, we don’t just reflect God’s character; we participate in His redemptive work in a broken world. And in doing so, we find that the very mercy we give becomes a healing balm for our own souls.
* Names have been changed.
Leslie Williams writes on faith, community, and personal growth. Her work has been featured in various publications, and she is known for her thoughtful and inspiring contributions. Leslie’s faith deeply influences her writing, and she is committed to sharing stories that inspire and uplift. She lives in the UK.