There are often times in our lives where people cross our paths that appear to be straight from the enemy. Clearly it is not our place to judge that but people can be so mean and hateful. I am no stranger to that and my tendency is to get very angry and riled up, lashing out at the one who is being so hateful to me. Of course I know that is not what I am supposed to do but it seems right. I must protect myself and show other people the error of their ways. Yet, it only occurred to me recently that by anger and hatred towards that person is no less offensive in the eyes of God than the hateful thing that they said or did.
Instead of continuing to keep me in that place, God gave me the gift of a trip to the country where he spoke to me about just that thing. Its funny how God is always ready to speak to you about your problems if you are just ready to hear Him. I wasn’t, so He sent me somewhere that I could hear Him. As I walked outside I searched for somewhere safe to sit. I soon found a place on some old steps in a field next to a pile of wood. As I sat there I quickly had the thought that the odds of a snake, skunk or other “dangerous” animal being in that pile of wood became very real to me.
Snakes bite, often with poisonous venom. And skunks spray anyone who threatens them with a foul and semi-permanent odor. These creatures, like us were created by God and I believe are not inherently evil. Although they make a good number of us respond in fear, they are not our predators. These responses of biting and spraying are in fact how they respond to fear. Then I found myself being a snake as I responded to those who hurt me. I don’t go around looking for someone to attack but when I feel attacked, whether real or perceived I bite. And I imagine that a lot of times when others bite at me, they are responding in the same manner. We are creatures that have learned to protect ourselves. But there is an even greater protector who can bring the only true protection.
With this revelation it is important to let God be our protector. We pray for that but this allows us a different option when attacked ourselves. We do no have to bite back but to trust God and pray that others are able to experience that safe place that we have found.
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