When People Treat US Badly, And God Tells Us To Be Nice Anyway…
I’m pretty sure most of you have dealt with situations where God was shifting the people in your life and the ones that were once close to you, it was then the season to let them go and new people came into your lives. But what about when YOU feel certain people need to be let go because of something they’ve done to hurt you or constantly not line up with your beliefs and you feel the need to distance yourself and all the while, God is continuously pushing you to reach out to this person (or people)? You can’t figure out why God wants you to be nice and hold out yet another hand when this person has been nothing but the opposite for you. Maybe there is still a lesson for you or even a seed He needs you to plant before you depart from them. We always have to look at things through God’s eyes and pay attention to His will and not be all in our feelings. It’s difficult, but it’s amazing what you see and experience and even the things you don’t get to witness that were a result of your obedience and gentleness despite the situation.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding
Romans 12:19 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,”
2 Timothy 2:23-26 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (Wow, this one really hit home! This goes back to what I was saying, sometimes there’s more that God wants done than we can see because we are caught up in the wrong things they’ve done instead of looking at how we can lead them to Christ or just plant that seed and keep it moving. It’s not about us and how we feel about the things that happen. If we do feel bad, that’s what God’s peace is for!)
People WILL do us wrong; they are PEOPLE! And we can’t get caught up in their foolishness. We have to continue to be examples of Christ even when we want to tell people about themselves in our own way! We don’t have to get caught up in people’s messes. Sometimes, God is using our responses (not reactions) to minister to them. He’s reaching out to them through us! So, when you can’t figure out why God is pushing you to not let go just yet and to do certain NICE gestures, to continue to show love and acts of kindness, think about His will, not your will. I’m also reminded of Hosea who, even after all of her wrong doings, God told Hosea to continue to love Gomer and care for her. The same for how God continued to love Israel.
There was a time when I had a friend that did unfriendly things to me. I continued to show love and kindness even though I felt I deserved better. Not once did I do or say anything negative to that person. Years later, that person came to realize how unfriendly they really were and acknowledged it to me and apologized. By then, it didn’t matter. Their well-being was all that mattered. As I look back at that, I realize that the person could have realized their wrong-doings and not bring it to me at all. God could have allowed them to have never crossed my path again, but the seed was still planted. They still saw my example of Christ. We don’t have to be present when things catch up with these people. I believe God allowed me to see this person’s regrets and remorse to let me know that your actions do make a difference. You may see it as doing nothing, but boy is it something! We can’t always know the reasons for everything. There are times when YOU want to keep giving chances and God is saying let them go. In either situation, there’s that common denominator: IT’S GOD’S WILL. We may not understand everything, but as long as we follow what He asks of us, He will keep us covered.
Amy M.
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