“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.” (Proverbs 28:5)

Patrolling in the County late one night, I saw a car sitting in a cotton field. When I turned in to check it, its headlights came on. I activated the blue lights and a guy stepped out of the car. He was visibly drunk. Since he was in “physical control” of a vehicle, my only option was to arrest him. Being on private property, however, the guy didn’t understand. He decided he wasn’t going easily. 

I called for backup, but the closest unit was miles away. It was also raining. I knew I had a long time before another patrol car arrived. While I waited, the suspect waved at passing cars for someone to help him. I guess whoever got help first would win the standoff. 

Although he was outside of his vehicle (at gunpoint), he insisted he needed to get his license out of the car. I wasn’t buying it, so I refused to let him. I later found out he had a loaded AR-15 in the driver’s seat of the car. He later told me, “I should have smoked you when you pulled up. That vest wouldn’t have helped you at all.” Unfortunately, he was correct.

After what seemed like hours, a set of headlights turned in behind me. The suspect perked up, thinking his friends had arrived. His face quickly fell, however, when more blue lights came on. It was another patrol car coming to help me. The guy went to jail that night, and he never forgave me. 

Soon after, I forgot about the incident. Then someone showed me an anti-government flyer the guy passed out at a local store. It was about me. The guy had me living rent-free in his head for months. He let his anger turn to bitterness. Hebrews 12:15 says, “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”

Bad things happen to us all. People hurt us, sometimes intentionally. I have watched too many wounded people let bitterness take root in their minds. Victims obsess over wrongs while offenders move on with life. Resentment then destroys the one who clings to it. Forgiveness prevents the offending person from living in our head. Let it go. Give it to God. He is the only One who can judge rightly.

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the LORD.” (Romans 12:19)