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June 21st – Luke 23:34

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Luke 23:34

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

When we are wronged, betrayed, and hurt, we want swift and immediate justice. Yet in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” There isn’t anyone who was betrayed more than Jesus. Beat, tortured, spit upon, cursed, and hung on a cross of wood, Jesus could have called an army of angels to exact justice upon those who hurt Him. (Matt. 26:63) But despite being unjustly condemned, Jesus uttered the powerful words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” This act of forgiveness reveals Jesus’ boundless love and mercy. And it shows that forgiveness doesn’t depend on the actions or remorse of the wrongdoer. By extending forgiveness, we not only free ourselves from the burden of anger and pain but also create an environment of healing and restoration. Through Jesus’ example, we are reminded of the power of forgiveness over justice and its ability to foster love, compassion, and reconciliation in our relationships.

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April 13th – Numbers 23:19

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Numbers 23:19

We’ve all heard it said that people will let you down, but God never will. We are fallen beings living in a fallen world. That means at some point in our lives, we will be hurt, betrayed, and disappointed by other people. And we too will do our share of hurting others. But in good times and bad, joy and sorrow, we can turn to God. Because our Lord will always be there to perfectly love and comfort us. Unlike our sinful humanity which lies, and changes its mind, God is faithful and reliable. Never will He hurt or betray us. The words He speaks are always honest and true. And when the Lord makes a promise, He will always act on and fulfill it. Even when we face times of doubt and uncertainty, God remains true. And when others walk away from us, He remains steadfast in His love. Unlike humans who are fickle and unreliable, we can forever trust in God’s goodness and character.

 

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March 8th – Psalm 27:14

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Psalm 27:14

We’ve all heard it said that patience is a virtue. It’s also listed by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 as among the fruit of the Spirit. But when it comes to times of hurting and despair, the last thing we want to do is practice patience. Instead what we want is immediate relief. That’s where faith comes in. God knows what we’re going through. And we need to trust Him enough to have patience to allow Him to work in our lives. To have faith in His perfect plan and timing. I love how John Piper says. “The folly of not waiting for God is that we forfeit the blessing of having God work for us. The evil of not waiting on God is that we oppose God’s will to exalt Himself in mercy.” Waiting on the Lord is an act of faith that requires patience and trust.  And it’s one that allows us to follow God’s plan for our lives, avoid mistakes, and experience spiritual growth and renewal.

 

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January 7th – Psalm 41:12

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Psalm 41:12

There is a quote that warns, “not everyone you fight is your enemy. And not everyone who helps you is your friend.” Throughout our lives we will experience hurt, betrayal, and disappointment at the hands of others. And in those moments we have a choice to make. Will that pain make us better or bitter? Better is using the hurt to grow closer to the Lord, and softening our hearts to the pain and needs of others. But bitter takes glee in retribution and seeing others misfortune. And it turns a blind eye to the suffering of another because its focus is only on self pity. We all fall short and sin daily against God. Yet from His wonderful love, He extends to us His unmerited grace and mercy. And He calls us to show that same grace and mercy. To repay evil with kindness, curses with blessings, and mistreatment with prayer. (Luke 6:27-28) And most importantly of all, if we see a need to meet that need. The way God meets all of ours.

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January 3rd – Psalm 21:13

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Psalm 21:13

When someone hurts us, it’s in our nature to want to retaliate. To make them feel, not only the same, but worse pain than they caused us. But instead of encouraging revenge or getting even, God demands something unfair, undoable, and unjust. Not only does He want us to leave the punishing to Him, but He expects us to forgive our enemies. And most infuriating of all, to pray blessings into their lives. But how do we do that when what we want is vengeance? Through the power of the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.” The power of God allowed David to rule as king, defeat his enemies, and experience victory over trials. And that same power allows us to forgive others, restore broken relationships, and have hearts overflowing with grace and mercy instead of dried and hardened from bitterness and revenge.

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Zechariah 7:10

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Zechariah 7:10

When Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek, (Matt. 5:39) He knows what He’s asking is hard. Because when we’ve been hurt, betrayed, and disillusioned, our first response is to retaliate. But if Jesus had that attitude, humanity would never have been saved. The Lord had command of over twelve legions of angels at His disposal. At anytime Christ could have walked away from the Cross, and taken revenge against those who wronged Him. Yet instead He responded with unmerited love and kindness, sacrificing Himself for all. In our own strength showing kindness to those who deserve it the least is impossible. But in God’s strength, we can do all things; including loving our enemies. Because we too were once enemies of God. But in His great love, He didn’t give us what we deserved. Instead He gave us kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and everlasting life.

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July 21st – 1 Thessalonians 3:12

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1 Thessalonians 3:12

As passionate as the apostle Paul was about Jesus, he was equally passionate about those he led to the Lord. Like a father who loves and cares for his children, Paul was there to teach, strengthen, and inspire young believers as they grew in their faith. Knowing firsthand the trials and persecution Christian’s endure, Paul understood the importance of encouragement. Encouragement is defined as, “the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope”. As a result of God’s abundant mercy, we have a living hope through Christ. (1 Pet. 1:3) And that blessed hope needs to be shared with a hopeless world. So today and everyday, be an encourager! Because sometimes something a simple as a warm smile or a kind word can make all the difference to one who is hurting. Therefore share God’s Word earnestly, abound in love increasingly, and encourage each other joyfully!

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July 18th – Philippians 4:4

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Philippians 4:4

When we’re hurting, being told to rejoice seems not only impossible, but particularly cruel. After all, how could God expect us to find joy in pain? But did you know that of all the books in the Bible, among the most joyful are the “prison epistles”? These are the letters written by Paul while imprisoned in Rome. The apostle had been falsely arrested, shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, beaten, and eventually beheaded. Yet through it all, Paul never lost his joy. Because his gladness wasn’t found in his circumstances. Rather, Paul’s joy was in the One who provided the love, peace, and strength he needed to endure every trial. And by following Paul’s model we too can rejoice always; even in the worst of circumstances. We don’t rejoice over the hurt, but we can rejoice over the Lord. Because He will use our situation both for our good, and His glory.

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June 4th – Psalm 55:22

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Psalm 55:22

There’s nothing more painful than being betrayed by someone you hold dear. King David knew this well. Betrayed by one of his dearest friends, his heart was broken and his soul weary. David faced threats from all sides, enemies constantly wanting his destruction, and not knowing who would turn on him next. Too much for any one man to deal with on his own. No wonder he cried out in deep despair. But because the One he cried out to was the Lord, David found the strength to overcome every painful circumstance. To cast our cares on God means laying at His feet every problem, hurt, and disappointment. To trust in His promises and provisions, and letting Him fight our fight. No matter what this world throws at us we needn’t worry nor fear. Because God promises to never let the righteous be shaken!

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