Devotional for 2/8/15
Sometimes it seems as though those who are deceitful come out on top of those who are honest. When that occurs it can create great distress and anger on the part of those who are taking the high road and trying to be honorable.
There was once a little girl who was abused repeatedly. She stuffed that memory deep inside, so deep that she denied it even occurred. But stuffing all that emotion for years had it's side effects. As an adult she began having great difficulty with her relationship with God. Those stuffed memories started eating their way to the surface, coming back in fractured flashbacks, transporting her back as that young girl again and was really there, reliving those terrifying events.
She sought out counseling several times in her adult life. At one point she found a new counselor she thought would be helpful. But instead she was repeatedly re-traumatized by this so called professional by being led to relive the terror in that office over and over. After several sessions of therapy with this therapist, she moved on to another counselor who was a much better match for her. As things progressed, she learned that the prior therapist had done things incorrectly on many counts, which had caused her a severe set back. So she decided something needed to be done to keep the prior therapist from hurting others.
This woman decided to submit a complaint against the prior therapist. When they held a hearing about the complaint, she poured out her heart to them in tears, but the prior counselor denied it all and lied. They believed the lies and dismissed the complaint, causing the woman great distress and anger as she once again felt violated. Is this what God intends to happen to those who are trying to stand up for what is right in order to help others?
Psalm 109: 1-2 "O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues."
But it is not God who causes bad things to happen to good people, it is Satan. And it is because of humankind's fall into sin that Satan is free to roam this earth. It is our free will that allows evil to persist in this world. Because we are not puppets, we are free to choose good or evil. Those of us who try to choose the right path must try not to stoop to their level to pay evil people back. Continue to pursue righteousness, leave vengeance to God. Just because we do not see God's punishment, does not mean it is not occurring or will not occur in the future. But we must also remember that if they are truly sorry for what they have done and ask for mercy from God, they too will receive it. While this may seem unfair on the surface, we must be thankful that God forgives, or else we too would be held accountable for everything we did wrong. And we all sin daily and need forgiveness.
Psalm 37:1-4, 7-9 (NIV) "Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart... Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land."
written by Jan Andersen
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