“I want you to step back,” I heard the Holy Spirit speak to my heart. “You are too hurt to answer.”
I knew the Lord was right. He always is. This time around, unlike so many times in the past, I heard Him. And I knew what to do. Obey the Lord. And wait. I was so incredibly sad about something a loved one had told me. And instead of rushing to respond to the person, I needed to pour my heart out to the Lord, be still before Him, receive His love, healing, and comfort, cry out to God for wisdom and direction concerning how to respond, and, in God’s time, following His will, respond to the person WITH THE LOVE AND PEACE OF JESUS.
It can be really tempting, and really easy, to be really reactive when we are very emotional about anything including when we are hurt. We can react out of our hurt and make a mess out of things and end up sinning against God and hurting others, damaging relationships, etc. and needing to repent.
Or we can pour out our hearts to God, cry out to God, wait on God, and obey God.
I didn’t need to forgive the person. The person hadn’t done anything wrong. I was just deeply hurt over a situation partially involving that person. And I needed to respond not out of my hurt but out of God’s love, mercy, grace, kindness, care, and compassion.
Feeling hurt? Emotional? Feeling tempted to react quickly out of your emotions? Please cry out to God, AMEN!
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15 NKJV