March 7 ~ Psalm 55:23
But what about those people who are cruel and brutal? You will throw them down into the deepest pit long before their time. I trust you, LORD!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Lately, I’ve been talking with God about my relationships with other people. I’ve considered that, at times, I have most likely said unkind or inconsiderate things to others. I hope I have not been cruel and brutal… but often, others perceive our actions and words as such even when we do not. I operate under the assumption that if people “feel” a certain way – those feelings are real to them. So if someone feels you are cruel or brutal – or if you feel someone has been cruel or brutal toward you – those feelings have merit.
Probably all of us have felt at one time or another that someone was unkind or unfair toward us. And a natural, human instinct is to take that person down – or to fight back on our own behalf.
The message I have gotten from talking with God about this is that while these people and experiences have impact on our lives… they do not have to affect us… and there is a difference! Think of bumper cars. If you bump into someone in your car, most likely there will be no lasting injury or consequence. But if you crash your car into someone else’s, this could affect all of you for the rest of your lives. What is the difference between the impact of a bump and the effect of a crash? Often it is how we perceive the event or incident. How can we change our perception? Trust in God to handle this for you!
“Yeah, right,” you may be saying. “That’s a lot easier said than done.” Yes, and nobody said being a faithful Christian was easy. Trusting God sounds simple, but it involves a release of our own desires as we fully rest in HIM to handle the worries of our day. It doesn’t happen overnight, but prayer and constant communication with God will strengthen you in your efforts. My prayer for all of us is that we could trust God to make tiny bumps out of major crashes in our lives… that our impacts could be minor and our effects nonexistent. He can do this for us… but we have to do our part. What’s holding you back today? Aren’t you ready to let God fight your battles?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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