Lately, it’s been hard to look past the negativity that has come along with life. I’m so guilty of sitting and dwelling on negative things people tell me or negative things people do around me. Whether it's someone doubting my relationship, doubting the person I am, or even someone judging me based off of someone else's opinion. Because what's worse than someone deciding if they like you or not and they don't even know you? Well, today I sat back and thought to myself, “You know, God would not want me to be angry with those people for what they are saying to me or for what they are saying about me that I may not know about. He would want me to pray for them and to love them.”
The Bible states in Matthew 5:44-45, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” God literally tells us to love those who do wrong to us. Those are the people who need the most prayer.
We all struggle with getting angry with others before thinking about the underlying issues of their actions. Maybe they are struggling with a personal issue. Maybe it’s just been a bad day. It may even be that they may not like you. But that’s okay because no matter the reason, God loves you and that’s all the matters, right? I’m not saying their underlying issue makes their actions right because that’s not at all the case.
Everyone has always said that we shouldn’t worry about what other people think or say about us, but if you’re like me, you know that’s almost impossible. We all want to be liked by everyone and be able to get along with everyone, so it’s hard to come by when the opposite of that happens. No one wants to be treated poorly, especially when it’s by someone who you do get along with.
We should always remember to be kind to unkind people; they need it the most. If someone speaks down on you, pray for them. If someone does wrong to you, pray for them. If someone does wrong to those who you are closest to, pray for them. If someone loves you whole heartedly day in and day out, pray for them.
The best thing I could possibly leave you with today is this amazing verse from James. It states, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry,” James 1:19 because that's exactly what we need to remind ourselves of in every situation.
