Someone asked me how I stop looking for justice and give up bitterness, and I was so blessed to recall how God has shown me His way on this theme that I want to share it here.

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These passages instruct my thinking:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

— Romans 12:14-21

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

— John 8:3-11

For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

— Luke 7:47

For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

— 1 Peter 2:19-23

There have been days that I have these verses on repeat in my mind. 

These songs have also been a comfort:

It feels like dying to forgive people who aren’t nearly as sorry as I think they should be. But it’s like getting stitched up instead of continually covering a wound with a bandage. The bandage doesn’t hurt, but it doesn’t heal. Stitches hurt, but they make the wound actually heal. I have less bitterness now than I did a year ago when I was heavily studying on this and learning some of it for the first time. I used to believe God didn’t care as much about my hurts as I did – I thought He had more important concerns. I’ve learned that this is not true. No one cares more than Him. When He seems absent, I have to trust that the opposite is true — “The Lord is near to the broken-hearted.”

I pray this helps.