Photo Credit: Iris Slootheer via Flickr

The entire nation is up in arms over the Casey Anthony verdict. The response has ranged from respecting the jury’s decision to individuals with a vigilante mentality. The majority of people seem to believe that she had something to do with her daughter’s death. But should we obsessed with hate and judgement towards her? We should instead pray for her heart. To quote Jesus himself, ”love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” Matthew 5:44.

A few years ago, I was going through a really rough time. I was confused by a lot of things and it affected the way I acted. This translated over to the job I was working at. Thus, my fellow employees gave me a really hard time. In fact, they outright persecuted me. I was made fun of, talked to unkindly, and actually prevented from performing my job. I was very hurt by their actions. At the time, I was training to walk a marathon, so I began to walk a few miles to a local church during lunch. I took that time of solitude to pray for those who wronged me. I prayed for their hearts to open. I asked God to help them find love in their hearts.

It is hard to not hold a grudge against people when we perceive their actions to be wrong. I was partly to blame for the treatment I received; but instead of retaliating, I turned it over to God. That is why, in instances like the Anthony verdict, we should trust that God knows the truth and that he will bring appropriate judgement to them in the end.