Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek, pray for our enemies, and love our neighbors as we would love ourselves. He also says to NOT resist anyone who is evil (Matthew 5:39).
These tactics may seem like they were just designed to make us suffer but I think that these actions break down the hatred and evil in the heart of the offender. These actions are actually a way of softening the hearts of those who wish to harm you. Hate breeds hate, love breeds love, revenge breeds revenge and forgiveness breeds forgiveness.
We can chose to spread light or spread darkness in this world. Every time we hurt someone, whether it was in reaction to something they did to us or not, we are spreading darkness. That darkness grows inside people's hearts and is often transfered to others through acts of anger, hate or maliciousness. Jesus wants us to spread only light and not darkness by forgiving and not seeking revenge on those who hurt us.
I know it is often difficult, I struggle with it almost every day, but here are some things that have helped me a lot:
1) Know that God is your witness. God sees every detail of every offense and sees how it hurts your heart and he weeps with us for he feels our pain. Jesus knows what its like to be offended, tortured, hated, misunderstood, cast out, beaten, mocked (crown of thorns), and even killed! Itis said that God saves our tears in heaven and He will reward us for our sorrows. Remember that when you are offended, Jesus is right there with you. He sees everything that happens and knows how it affects you.
"I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"
Matthew 25:40
2) Know that evil often causes others to hurt us. Have you ever lost control of your anger and did something that you regretted later? That is the power of darkness over one's heart. It doesn't have to be a lashing out. It could be someone who was rude to you, or someone who treated you with indifference (as if you were not there), or someone who victimizes you (verbal or physical attacks). It could be as simple as someone giving you the "evil eye", or someone accusing you of something you didn't do. In any case, remember that these people acted under the power of darkness. God still loves these people for He created them. They may be far from God today but many of us were far from God at one time also...so forgive them and show MERCY because God is merciful to them also (patient and merciful).
3) Remember that "Anger is a mask for pain." - Dr. Phil McGraw. There is always an underlying reason why a person is full of anger, hatred, arrogance, or a control-freak. We should be careful not to judge others. That is God's job. We instead should try to accept these people as our "defective" brothers who have a lot of buried pain inside their hearts making them grow cold towards others, or maybe they never experienced love at all. God does not despise people for who they are, but for the things that they do.
Behold, God is mighty but does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
Job 36:5
My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God's sight.
James 1:19-20
These tactics may seem like they were just designed to make us suffer but I think that these actions break down the hatred and evil in the heart of the offender. These actions are actually a way of softening the hearts of those who wish to harm you. Hate breeds hate, love breeds love, revenge breeds revenge and forgiveness breeds forgiveness.
We can chose to spread light or spread darkness in this world. Every time we hurt someone, whether it was in reaction to something they did to us or not, we are spreading darkness. That darkness grows inside people's hearts and is often transfered to others through acts of anger, hate or maliciousness. Jesus wants us to spread only light and not darkness by forgiving and not seeking revenge on those who hurt us.
I know it is often difficult, I struggle with it almost every day, but here are some things that have helped me a lot:
1) Know that God is your witness. God sees every detail of every offense and sees how it hurts your heart and he weeps with us for he feels our pain. Jesus knows what its like to be offended, tortured, hated, misunderstood, cast out, beaten, mocked (crown of thorns), and even killed! Itis said that God saves our tears in heaven and He will reward us for our sorrows. Remember that when you are offended, Jesus is right there with you. He sees everything that happens and knows how it affects you.
"I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"
Matthew 25:40
2) Know that evil often causes others to hurt us. Have you ever lost control of your anger and did something that you regretted later? That is the power of darkness over one's heart. It doesn't have to be a lashing out. It could be someone who was rude to you, or someone who treated you with indifference (as if you were not there), or someone who victimizes you (verbal or physical attacks). It could be as simple as someone giving you the "evil eye", or someone accusing you of something you didn't do. In any case, remember that these people acted under the power of darkness. God still loves these people for He created them. They may be far from God today but many of us were far from God at one time also...so forgive them and show MERCY because God is merciful to them also (patient and merciful).
3) Remember that "Anger is a mask for pain." - Dr. Phil McGraw. There is always an underlying reason why a person is full of anger, hatred, arrogance, or a control-freak. We should be careful not to judge others. That is God's job. We instead should try to accept these people as our "defective" brothers who have a lot of buried pain inside their hearts making them grow cold towards others, or maybe they never experienced love at all. God does not despise people for who they are, but for the things that they do.
Behold, God is mighty but does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
Job 36:5
My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God's sight.
James 1:19-20
