Martin Luther King Jr. led peaceful protests against segregation in the South, despite facing extreme opposition. Protesters were met with police brutality, attack dogs, and powerful water hoses. Yet, civil rights activists never retaliated. Their unwavering commitment to nonviolence shocked many white Americans who had previously remained silent. Watching activists endure such treatment with dignity and restraint stirred sympathy and support for their cause.
Even after his house was bombed, Martin Luther King Jr. remained steadfast in his belief:
“We must meet hate with love.”
His faith in Jesus gave him the strength to love his enemies, allowing him to find inner peace despite the chaos surrounding him. Rather than responding with anger or violence, he was determined to break the cycle of oppression. By choosing nonviolence, he let go of resentment and worked toward God’s justice.
“Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.” — Proverbs 20:22
Letting Go of Bitterness
It’s human nature to want revenge when someone hurts us. But holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer. Even if they’re no longer in our lives, they can still have power over us if we let bitterness consume us.
Forgiving someone doesn’t mean excusing their actions or maintaining a relationship with them, especially if the offense was severe or abusive. Instead, forgiveness is about releasing the hold they have over us.
One way I’ve practiced forgiveness is by writing down everything I was holding against someone. Then, I scribbled over the words, wrote IT IS FORGIVEN in bold letters, ripped up the paper, and threw it away. It wasn’t easy. When the memories resurfaced, I had to choose forgiveness again. It wasn’t for them—it was for my own heart, to keep bitterness from taking root.
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” — Romans 12:19
Martin Luther King Jr. trusted in God’s justice. He knew that judgment wasn’t his to give—he left that to God.
Changing Laws, Changing Lives
Public sympathy for civil rights activists helped change history. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ensured that all people—regardless of race, religion, gender, or background—must be treated equally under the law. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 guaranteed that every U.S. citizen, no matter their skin color, had the right to vote.
By following God’s way—choosing peace over violence—Martin Luther King Jr. helped transform America. His leadership not only gave people of color the right to attend the same schools and use the same public spaces as white people, but it also gave white Americans the opportunity to embrace diversity in a positive way. His work made the U.S. a fairer place for all.
But King wasn’t just seeking a better life for himself—he was fighting for justice for everyone. By trusting in God’s timing and justice instead of seeking his own, he became a true change maker.
How can you show love to your enemies?
How can you be a change maker in your own world?
For more on justice check out Transform from a Seed into a Flower: Two Stories here or forgiveness Treat Your Enemies Like this click here.
Sources and References:
“Proverbs 20:22.” Bible Gateway, Easy-to-Read Version, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2020%3A22&version=ERV.
“Romans 12:19.” Bible Gateway, New International Version, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012%3A19&version=NIV.
Historical and Scholarly Sources:
“Martin Luther King Jr.’s Home Is Bombed in 1956.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, https://www.history.com/news/martin-luther-king-jr-home-bombing-nonviolence.
“Martin Luther King Jr.’s Home Bombed in Montgomery.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/martin-luther-king-jr-home-bombed-montgomery.
Civil Rights Act of 1964. Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute, Stanford University, https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/civil-rights-act-1964.
Jones, Geoffrey. Renewing Unilever: Transformation and Tradition. Harvard Business School, https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=50383.
“Martin Luther King, Jr.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/summary/Martin-Luther-King-Jr.
“Martin Luther King Jr.” NAACP, https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/martin-luther-king-jr.
“The Voting Rights Act of 1965.” National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, https://www.nps.gov/articles/votingrightsact.htm.