Overcome Hurts With Jesus
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -- John 16:33
Some people just don’t like me. They don’t. It’s like I just rub them the wrong way, to use an old expression. It’s nothing specific that I’ve done. It’s just me.
You may have somebody like that in your life. The sad truth is that not everybody is going to like us, even if we like them. Even if they are part of your life, either as family, neighbor or co-worker. It’s just a fact of life.
Knowing that doesn’t make it hurt any less. It would be wonderful if we could just never come into contact with people who don’t like us. We’d never have to face their rejection again. We wouldn’t have to hear their criticism. We wouldn’t have to remember again that we have never been, nor will we ever be, somebody they want to have around.
We can’t make somebody like us. Oh, we can try. But sometimes trying just means that you’re pretending to be someone you’re not to try and please someone who can’t be pleased. At least not by you.
That said, it’s not about you. I know. It feels like it is. But it isn’t. Really. It’s about them. And the simple fact that sometimes people just don’t click.
I find comfort in knowing that Jesus understands. He was rejected again and again, by His own family, by church leaders, by people who just went along with the crowd. He has felt pain much worse than anything I’ve ever felt. And He did it for me.
So I ask for His peace to fill me, that I might be able to do good despite the hurt. I pray that I might curb my tongue and not fall into bitterness and spite. Because pain makes us want to lash out and that really isn’t what Jesus wants us to do.
It’s hard, isn’t it? I have real problems with my tongue. The more it hurts, the more I want to make others hurt. And not always the ones who deserve the hurt. I really have to watch out so that I don’t become like the people who hurt me.
So I spend time every day in the Word. I pray. I surround myself with Christian friends. I attend church. I do those things that keep me focused on who I am in Christ. I hold on to the possibilities of who I can be with His help.
No. I can’t make anyone like me. And certainly I can’t make anyone love me. I learned that lesson a long, long time ago. But I can find peace in the arms of Jesus and the promise of an eternity filled with love and acceptance. So can you.
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