These days I feel like I am traversing a mine field at home, work and even in my mind; and everyday, I am injured or bruised because I couldn’t side step one quick enough. Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever wondered how to cope with mistreatment in your christian life? Life seems difficult at every turn and everyone seems to be used by the devil to tear you down, rip you apart and lead you down the road to hell.
During this period, I sometimes get very angry, despondent and stressed out. Nonetheless, I am quick to remember that God is always on my side and I am going through the ‘valley of the shadow of death’ and crossing over into the ‘desert’ on occasion. But God never leaves me alone. He never forsakes me and he sends his ravens to feed me. It is these thoughts that replace the anger with peace. Yesterday, was no different.
I found immense comfort, strength and revelations from a YouTube clip, shared by a friend of mine. Kerry said that while she was listening to a sermon by Prophetess Juanita Bynum, God instructed her to share it with me. Due to her obedience, I was blessed and rejuvenated by God’s words through Prophetess Juanita Bynum. I have shared the clip ‘Diving Interruption’ with you as well.
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. —Ephesians 6:6-8, KJV
That was not all. My morning devotional had a message for me also – How to Cope With Mistreatment. I found the bible verse to be very profound. “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free“. —Ephesians 6:6-8, KJV
God knows that it is not in my nature to please men. He knew that my flesh would not contend with being hypocritical or taking disrespect from anyone. Therefore he chose words which allowed me to see that it is not for men, but rather for Him; as a servant of Christ should I do His will. With hard and convicting evidence from the bible, as a child of God, I have no choice but to humbly obey His word and His will.
By: Denise N. Fyffe
Copyright © 2017, Denise N. Fyffe
See the message excerpt below:
How do you cope with mistreatment? The story about Laban and the way he treated Jacob may have much to teach us.
Jacob worked for Laban fourteen years, keeping his agreement in exchange for Laban’s two daughters. Then another six years elapsed before Jacob finally made the break, and it was after Joseph was born when Jacob turned his thoughts toward going home.
Maybe you can identify with the kind of mistreatment Jacob endured for so many years. I have known many people who have put up with so much from others, a controlling parent or a spouse, for instance, who makes life so unpleasant. It may be a boss. I dare say many reading this dread returning to work on Monday mornings.
I want you to see three ways in which Jacob coped with mistreatment.
1. Jacob was careful not to pick a quarrel with Laban. He knew that what was happening to him was God’s way of breaking him. Jacob knew he had been a deceiver himself; now he had met his match. This is the way God may choose to break you: to let you meet your match.
2. Jacob preoccupied himself with what he did best. He gave himself to what God had called him to do. You may have been mistreated, but God has given you a gift. Use it well. One day your time will come and God will say, “Enough is enough.”
3. Jacob didn’t really break away until he had divine confirmation. “Then the Lord said to Jacob, ‘Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you’” (Gen. 31:3). Until then, it had been Jacob’s idea, but God had been watching and He said, “Enough is enough. I am with you.”
God knows how much you can bear, and He is coming to your rescue at this moment to remind you that the one who was mistreated the most was Jesus who died on the cross.
Excerpted from All’s Well That Ends Well (Authentic Media, 2005).
So, what did you think about this article today?