You get an angry phone call from a friend, co worker, relative...they go on and on with you for a simple misunderstanding. You feel increasingly upset, even angry..you can feel your blood pressure rising by the minute. Your heart rate is as if you just ran a mile. You try to explain yourself to them in a calm , cool , and collected manner (though you may not FEEL like doing that) and yet, they cut you off and still ramble on. The conversation ends badly. Someone hangs up on the other. You feel like you want to call back and fix it yet, you are so angry with them. How could they treat you like that over something so trivial? Or even if it's big...why won't they let you explain yourself? The conversation stirs in your mind all day and all night. Your day just isn't the same. It started off pretty good but now, now it's ruined. You think, "This person has serious issues." You start to justify yourself and your actions and point blame at them. It was him or her anyway that went off on YOU. And, you are not in the wrong! Maybe they are wrong and don't want to admit it...or no one is wrong they are just misunderstanding something you said, something you did or did not do, or maybe someone else told them a lie about you or that you said about them. Your anger and your almost disgust or perhaps hatred towards this person is increasing as the hours pass. Maybe this is the first time this has happened with this person. Maybe it's the 100th time this has happened. Perhaps it's someone who tends to flip out often and not get all the information first. You find yourself judging and judging more and more. "But God," you say, "it wasn't my fault! "
You may be right. It was not your fault. They are in the wrong. They should have called you or came to you face to face in a calm manner trying to figure this thing out. Trying to get answers in a mature fashion. We are all adults anyway right?
We all have dealt with this situation. They take things the wrong way and then they just go on and on with it. Not letting you explain or tell them what happened or what you meant by what you said or did. They just think they know and they just lose it. It is even harder if you really did not do anything wrong. What do we do in a situation like this?
This is a type of scenario we ALL encounter at some time in our lives. Some of us, more often the we like. Whether it is work related, or family related...it's not easy. It's tough to have your head bitten off and chewed on. Thankfully, God has an answer to this stressful situation. But...it may not be the answer we want to hear. Many times that is the case.God asks us to act in a way that is in total conflict to how we feel. (Hence the battle between flesh and spirit) But, we can rest assured that His way will always ALWAYS produce better results.
So, what does God ask us to do in His word with this type of situation and person? He asks us to....drum roll....BLESS THEM AND PRAY FOR THEM. Oh, and we must not forget...TO LOVE THEM. Yup. You got it. These individuals that are spewing fire out of their nostrils and throwing daggers at us, over seemingly nothing...we must LOVE, BLESS and PRAY for. Whew. That's a tough one!
Here is what God's word actually says in Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Ok, I admit this is not easy for me! But, I have been taking this to God and asking Him to help me to love others as He loves them. And to help me bless others when they are difficult. I just pray for them and ask God to bless them and forgive them and help me to love them. And you know what? More and more, as I remember to do that, I find that I don't feel so negative towards them anymore. Seriously, it's kind of amazing but, I suppose it's how God works! :-) He will bless US for blessing others! When we choose His road, the High road, and we obey Him and just love and bless and pray for people when we would rather rip off their heads....then He of course see's this sacrifice and our obedience and He in turn blesses us. He is blessing me with the ability to see them how he see's them, to see why they did what they did and how they are hurting ....to have compassion for someone I am at odds with! That's something only God can do in you!
As we each deal with these tough people, or even enemies , I pray that we all would learn how to love not only our family, friends and neighbors, but how to love our enemies as well. And that we would all remember to pray for them and to bless them. Remember, it may seem unthinkable and unachievable but God WILL help you do this! Just ask him :-)
Hang in there and keep on loving!!
In Jesus' Mighty Love,
~M~
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