Faithful Love

How do you respond when someone does something to hurt you? It may or may not be intentional but done without consideration. You notice this person is a repeat offender as they seem to hurt others as well!  Do you just let it go and ignore it? 

Throughout the years I have personally been affected by this like many other people. There were some situations that paralyzed me as I struggled to move on; while the imaginary tapes of painful conversations played in my head. I imagined how to respond but didn’t have the courage to actually say anything. Realizing I was not alone was not enough as I wrestled with hurt and un-forgiveness.

Forgiveness is understandably one of the hardest things we face when dealing with someone who is unaware of how bruised you might be feeling by something they said. Just know that it can possibly happen with two important tools and knowing what to do is one of the first steps.

God’s word is a great place to start when dealing with your feelings.  One particular scripture that helps with a hurting heart is Ephesians 4:32. It reminds us to – “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

Prayer is also a valuable tool that helps when seeking forgiveness. This is something that the Lord had to teach me. When I would begin to pray for my own feelings, the Holy Spirit would guide me to pray for the person that had hurt me as well. Once this became a habit in my life God used it to bring healing. Now, if I have an issue with another person I pray for them and God guides my thoughts rather than my emotions. 

I notice that the Lord fills my heart with all sorts of treasures to pray for the other person rather than what they did “to hurt me.” Once the focus is off of my own feelings, God reveals the other individual’s hurts and wounds and somehow mine is not so obvious to me. This is when the real healing starts and God does some of His best work. 

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:14

Like any good parent, God loves all of us and wants healing and reconciliation for everyone. It’s great that God doesn’t play favorites and wants the best for each of us. He sees us clearly because He isn’t allowing emotion to cloud His judgment with how He feels about us. He loves us all the same and wants us to forgive as he does. 

God is able to respond to us the way that he does because he is faithful! No matter what we do God has and will always love us. There are so many facets to God’s faithfulness!

Faithful = loyal, constant, true, devoted, truehearted, unswerving, unwavering, staunch, steadfast, dedicated and committed.

Think about the other person like God does us when we hurt him. Because he is loyal, steadfast and committed he will wait for us to come to him to ask for forgiveness. Pray for the other person to have a willingness to work it out with you. They might just seek you out to talk about what is hurting you if God works on their heart first.

I do know there might be a circumstance that won’t allow you to go to the person to work it out. That is where the importance of prayer comes in. It is a powerful tool, and God will use it as you meet with him. Talk your feelings and emotions out and give him all of your hurt. Romans 8:26 reminds us that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. When we don’t know how to pray, he prays on our behalf with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. Please be encouraged to begin with prayer first, asking the Lord to point your heart in the right direction. He would be happy to oblige if you only let him.   

Today’s Assurance: “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” COLOSSIANS 3:12-15

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I praise you for your compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience! Thank you for bearing my burdens and forgiving my sins! I ask that you would show me how to let your peace rule in my heart so that I can forgive others. Guide my emotions to live in perfect unity with you and those around me. Teach me how to be thankful in all circumstances. Please make me tenderhearted like you are Lord. Bless and meet the needs of the people who have hurt me so that they can live in community with you. In your great name, Jesus! 

Declaration: We must choose to put on the love of Christ to live in unity with others!