Handling The Hurt

In the very near future, your spouse will do or say something that offends you. It may be done accidentally or it may be done intentionally.

Either way, your response should be the same.

Bless those who persecute you [who cause you harm or hardship]; bless and do not curse [them]. Never repay anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is right and gracious and proper in the sight of everyone. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:14, 17-19, AMP)

You're right, it seems foolish to bless whose you cause you harm or hardship.

I agree, forgiving when you've been hurt can be difficult.

You're right, not repaying evil when it's in your power to do so is frustrating.

I get it, living at peace with someone who is disrupting your world presents challenges.

You and I agree, waiting for God to make things right and defend us can seemingly take forever.

However, that is God's will for us as believers.

Although we  may not be able to fully grasp it at the time, God uses our obedience to walk in love to bring about HIS righteous will (not our diabolical desires).

You may be familiar with my story about Cetelia serving me breakfast in bed one morning. It didn't happen after a hot date and evening of romantic loving.

Nope. 

I got breakfast in bed the morning after ignoring her when we went to sleep the previous night. I was mad at her, so I didn't tell her goodnight, didn't pray with her, and didn't give her a kiss. 

I showed her who was boss!

The next morning, God showed me who the REAL boss was ... Him!

Because Cetelia blessed instead of cursing, didn't repay evil for evil, loved in peace with me, and didn't avenge herself (by dumping the grits on me), God was able to speak to my heart and show me how foolish I was behaving.

Although Sweet Cetelia may look like the most angelic person in the world, I can guarantee you that it wasn't easy for her to overlook the slights I gave her the night before. She had to make a conscious decision to do me good when I deserved bad.

As I said at the outset, in the very near future your spouse will do or saying something that offends you. It may be done accidentally or it may be done intentionally. Either way, your response should be the same:

Bless those who persecute you [who cause you harm or hardship]; bless and do not curse [them]. Never repay anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is right and gracious and proper in the sight of everyone. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:14, 17-9, AMP)


Will you commit to loving? If so, reply with "I Will Love, and Let God Repay!"