Life Can Be Wonderful? 8 – Even When I’m Insulted & Misunderstood
I deal with teenagers almost every day of my life. They sometimes come to me and talk to meabout what someone said about them and how much it hurt their feelings. They tell me about a lie or a story someonetold about them. How they were laughedat for their answer in math or science. They are teased about their clothes or their hair. They come to me brokenhearted by the meannessof others. I always try to tell them toremember something we are going to talk about this week.
Jesus even said something about people talking about people in the Beatitudes. He told his early followers. 10 Those who are treated badly for doing good are happy, because the kingdom of heavenbelongs to them. 11 “People will insult you and hurt you. Theywill lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. Butwhen they do, you will be happy. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because you have agreat reward waiting for you in heaven. People did the same evil things to theprophets who lived before you. Matthew 5:10-12 (NCV)
This whole being just mean to each other has been around forever. Whatever we have to say to make ourselves feel superior to another person is what will flow from our mouths most of the time. But we all know that old nursery rhyme is not true. Sticks and stones do hurt, but many times words hurt us so deeply we never recover from them. So how can we be happy when bad things are said about us? Or, especially when they are believed by others? Maybe these four short thoughts might help.
Hear the Message Behind Jesus’ Words
He doesn’t say people might say some stuff about you or try to ruin your name in this life. It is a natural part of life to be attacked by someone else. Heck, the first two brothers ended up with one murdering the other. Bad times come to all of us and it usually is made worse by the words of others. Jesus never hurt anyone and yet people accused him of false stuff all the time. If we are attacked by someone just remember that we are in a long line of people who have been attacked needlessly and cruelly. It is almost a guarantee that if you breathe someone will find a “reason” to say something about you. So maybe if we take a breath and think about the fact that we are not the first or the last to be attacked it will help us deal with it.
Understand the Truth About Others
We need to remember that people who talk about others are probably hiding something about themselves. It is the old shell game. Look over here while I changed the situation over here. Only shallow and discouraged people attack others with false lies and innuendos. They are trying to cover up their own short comings by pointing out yours. So, once again take a breath and realize that those who attack you are just hiding something about themselves.
Resist the Temptation to Get Even
“Fools quickly show that they are upset, but the wise ignore insults.” Proverbs 12:16 (NCV) When we are attacked the first reaction is to fire back or defend ourselves. I often think that if I cause a ruckus then it validates their words. Plus I have heard that if you wrestle with a pig, you just get dirty and the pig loves it. So if we get even we really have just gotten further behind in life. I know this is some tough living and it will suck at times. There is nothing harder than swallowing the words that we want to say out loud. But sometimes we need to remember that if we don’t say something then we will not make the greatest speech we will learn to regret.
Take the Long Road Home
Funny thing about following God is that we are never promised a great and perfectlife here on this earth. Many times therewards are talked about coming later, like after we die. I’m not sure what is waiting for us inheaven. There are just sorta snap shotsthroughout the Bible that we cannot really say for sure how it will be foreternity. But, still Jesus promised thatone day there will be a reward waiting for us in heaven. I guess if I can take the long road home andnot seek to get instant pay back, I will be happy in the end. Besides, I don’t want to have won the battlesto only lose the war in the end.
These Beatitudes have been a challenge to live by. We need to understand that a life that is worth living is full ofchallenges and rewards that come daily and sometimes in the end hopefully. I just know that when I resist the temptationto stand up for myself that I can at least sleep at night knowing that God islistening and has promised to stand up for those who do right. So just know that happiness is not always asong and dance, sometimes it is just a good night’s sleep.