Anger,
frustration, spite – these are normal emotional responses when someone hurts,
offends or disrespects us. What’s not
normal, is responding with kindness, love and compassion.
Matthew
5:39-48:
39 But I
say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right
cheek, turn the other to him also. 40“If
anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41“Whoever
forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42“Give
to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from
you.
43“You
have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your
enemy.’ 44“But I
say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that
you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise
on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46“For if
you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors
do the same? 47“If you
greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48“Therefore
you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Does God
really want us to respond with kindness when someone spreads lies, takes
advantage of us, or hurts our feelings?
Yes and NO. Yes he wants us to be
kind but if i read the above scripture right, he wants us to go BEYOND
kindness, he wants us to “go the extra mile.”
God calls us to love everyone, at all times.
Over the last
month I have struggled with this more than I care to share. Someone used a social media site to attack me
without naming me. I was quiet at
first. Not because I was being the
“bigger” person, but because I don’t like confrontation. As the day went on, and the comments were
made, I felt as if I needed to defend myself.
As I wrote my response, I felt an internal struggle start. I knew I would regret it if I posted it, but
I didn't start it, I was only defending myself.
I felt as if the person needed to know how I felt, why I did what I did,
etc. Did I speak lies? No, but I wasn't nice. I didn't turn the other
cheek. I didn't respond as God would
have wanted me to.
The moment I
hit post, I regretted it. It was unlike
me to be so bold or to stand-up for myself.
I had hoped that I would have felt relieved but I didn't. I felt terrible. I am firm believer in not ranting or
attacking people on social media sites.
It is better to go to the person directly and address whatever issue(s)
you have or do what I do, say nothing and stew about it quietly. I did exactly what I hate. I attacked someone, was unkind and I did it
on Facebook.
A few of my
friends read the post and patted me on my back.
They were surprised by my response and supported my decision to finally
stand up for myself. So the internal
struggle continued. Was I wrong? If I wasn't, why did I feel so terrible? As the hours went on and I pondered what had
happened, I couldn't get the voice in my head to stop telling me how wrong I was. I kept justifying my actions and
words but the voice was persistent.
I prayed that
night for God’s forgiveness and grace. I didn't deserve either but I desperately wanted them. I confessed to him all my wrong doings and
asked for peace over the situation. As I
woke the next day the pit in my stomach was still there and I “heard” God
telling me how to handle this situation.
I needed to apologize. But
why? I didn't want to! I wasn't sorry for what I said, but I was
sorry for the way I said it and where I said it. Either way, I knew I had to apologize because
I responded as the world would respond. I didn't respond as God wanted me to
respond. I didn't turn the other
cheek. I didn't show Gods love. If I am a child of God, I need to act as
one. I knew if I ignored Gods direction
I would be miserable. I would continue
to be filled with anger, distress and guilt.
So I did the thing I didn't want to do and I apologized.
I am thankful
God is willing to direct me and correct me when I am wrong. I need to learn to listen to His direction in
the midst of my actions, rather than after the fact. If I claim to be a Christian, I should
achieve to be Christ like. I need to
love like Christ, to treat others like Christ would and to turn the other
cheek. Far too often we listen to the
world and follow their example, but we don’t answer to the world, we answer to
God. While the world may tell us its
okay to act a certain way, say certain things, etc. we must remember who we
answer to and His desires and expectations.
