Answers
By Billy Graham • November 8, 2011 • Topics: Forgiving Others
Q:
Someone I cared for very much ended up hurting me very badly. Someone where I work says he can call down a curse on her because he has special powers—something like voodoo, I gather. I'm tempted to let him do it, but I promised someone I'd ask you first.
A:
I sincerely hope you won’t go down this road — both for your sake and the sake of the person who hurt you. The temptation to do this may be strong — but in the long run no good will come from it.
Why do I say this? One reason is because this could open your life to spiritual powers that are opposed to God, and will only deceive you and lead you down a false path. The Bible warns us not to get involved in such things, no matter how strong the temptation is. One of the saddest pictures in the Bible is of King Saul at the end of his life, abandoning his dependence on God and turning instead to occult powers — leading to his defeat and death. (You’ll find the account in 1 Samuel 28).
The other reason I say this is because anger has enslaved you, and all you can think about is striking back and hurting the other person. But this is like a poison to your soul, and if you don’t let go of it, it will hurt you far more than you could ever hurt this person. God’s command is clear: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult” (1 Peter 3:9).
I urge you instead to bring your anger and bitterness — and your whole self — to Jesus Christ. Ask Him to forgive your sins, and then ask Him to take away your bitterness and replace it with His forgiveness and love.
