In this episode, Ross O’Hair and Ben Brezina explore what it means to overcome evil with good. They unpack Romans 12:19-21—challenging listeners to leave revenge to God and instead respond to hurt with kindness and radical love. The conversation touches on the pitfalls of seeking personal justice, the transformative power of depending on the Holy Spirit, and practical ways to bless those who wrong us, even in our most vulnerable moments. If you've ever wrestled with how to handle hurt, offense, or injustice, this conversation will challenge and encourage you. Discover how choosing to depend on Christ and walking in His love can transform your life—and the lives of those around you.

Key Verses:

Romans 12:19-21: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Quotes:

“We are the worst person to judge a situation when we’re the ones hurt.”

“The people who hurt us can’t heal us—only God can.”

“Jesus didn’t just avoid revenge—He actively blessed those who hated Him.”

Key Points:

1. Overcoming evil with good begins by entrusting our hurt and anger to God rather than seeking personal vengeance.
2. Radical love calls us to bless our enemies and respond with kindness, even when our emotions run high.
3. Depending on the Holy Spirit empowers us to transform conflict into opportunities for healing and reconciliation.

Outline:

1. Introduction (00:04)
2. Scripture Reading (00:50)
3. The Call to Not Avenge Yourself (02:08)
4. God’s Justice vs. Our Emotions (03:32)
5. The Destructive Cycle of Retaliation (06:16)
6. Empowered to Give Radical Love (07:38)
7. Jesus as the Ultimate Example (10:53)
8. Practical Example: Refusing to Take the Bait (12:00)
9. Handling Personal Offense with Grace in Parenting (15:53)
10. Relying on the Holy Spirit to Overcome Evil (19:16)
11. Final Takeaway (19:31)

Theme Music:

Here Forever by Adigold Emotion by TonyDrummer (all rights and licensing from Envato elements)

Hosted by: Ross O'Hair Participating Staff: Ben Brezina Scripture Read by: Ben Brezina Edited by: Ross O’Hair and Ben Brezina

---

Have a question or comment about this podcast? We want to hear from you. Email us at podcast@cftministry.org

Interested in more? Get the Living IN Jesus study.

In need of individual counseling? Visit our website to schedule an online or in-person appointment.