I Don’t Want To, But I Will
We are all human. We all have a plethora of unique gifts and talents at our disposal. And with that comes a multitude of opinions. And we all believe that we are right! Can I get an Amen?!
I’m not telling you anything you don’t know when I say that a multitude of opinions opens doors for irritation and disagreements. People seem to be easily offended these days. Feelings easily hurt. Friendships and even familial relationships are being broken. It’s sad to watch and experience.
It’s not easy to extend love in the midst of tough circumstances. Especially when you or someone you love has been hurt by the words or actions of others. Our first response is probably not to love, but to get even. To open our mouths to get back at whoever hurt us. Our body’s fight response to keep us safe.
I’m challenged in these sticky situations because if I can be honest, I don’t want to extend love or kindness when myself or someone I love has been hurt. Why don’t people think before they speak? Why do some act as if they are always the victim, yet don’t realize they are the problem? Why can’t everyone just get along?
Because we live in a fallen world, chaos and division will be a part of our lives. Sin will continue to run rampant. As Christ followers, we can live in such a way that brings peace in the middle of chaos. Even when I don’t want to, I can make a choice to extend love. I don’t have to agree with you to love you. Of course this comes with extending healthy boundaries. I’ve found that there are some relationships that must be paused or even ended because they are not healthy. You may have to make arrangements to keep you and your family safe. Boundaries are Biblical and necessary for healthy living.
The prophet Jeremiah in the Old Testament was harassed and criticized for sharing God’s Word. He questioned God because I’m sure there were more hard days than easy ones. Jeremiah was challenged not to give in to the hate of those around him, but to stand firm and continue the work he was there to do. To share God’s message with the people of Judah.
Jeremiah 17:5-10, NLT
This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.”
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
May we be people who don’t align with the sin of the world. May we stand firm when there is chaos and division. May we not be afraid to extend the love of Jesus, especially by the way we live and carry our lives. I know we may not want to, but may we extend grace and mercy when it’s needed. God will be with us.
