We have all experienced hurt in our lives in one way or another, I want to focus in this article on how we can overcome the emotional wounds caused by someone who has wronged us.
Of course, we know that we must forgive those who have offended and hurt us. Jesus tells us in Mark 11:25 Amplified that if we want our prayers to be answered, we must forgive those who hurt us:
And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.
Most Christians know they are supposed to forgive those who have wronged them. But they often ask the question, “Just how do I go about forgiving those who have done so much to hurt me?”
We’re going to find out from the Word of God some keys to operating in forgiveness. But first, we must realize that many times the reason people hurt us is that they have unresolved hurts of their own. The anger of someone who is lashing out at us may very well be a direct reflection of that person’s own insecurities and problems.
Know Your Enemy
It is also very important for us to know who our real enemy is. Ephesians 6:12 identifies the enemy:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We must recognize that although a person hurt us, Satan is ultimately the one behind the attack. The devil uses people to discourage us through offense.
Matthew 16 gives us great illustration of a time the devil used Peter to try to discourage Jesus. Peter said the wrong thing at the wrong time. But Jesus recognized the demonic source behind the potential offense and stopped the devil in his tracks!
From that time forth Jesus began [clearly] to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and high priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised from death.
Then Peter took Him privately and began to reprove and charge Him sharply, saying, God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to You!
But Jesus turned away from Peter and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in my way [an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me]; for you are minding what partakes no of the nature and quality of God, but of men. (Matthew 16:21-23 AMP)
We see here that Jesus was sharing with the disciples about going to the cross. Just then, Peter opened his big mouth and said the wrong thing: Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee (v. 22). If you look up that phrase in the original Hebrew, it literally means, “Pity Thyself, Lord.” In other words, Peter was telling Jesus that He should feel sorry for Himself.
Of course, the though of dying on the cross would tend to tempt anyone to feel sorry for himself. However, Jesus saw right through the whole thing. He didn’t fall for the devil’s trap; He knew what to do!
How did Jesus get rid of the discouragement that tried to latch onto Him? He spoke it it! He rebuked the temptation to be hurt, offended or filled with self-pity. Jesus resisted the real enemy, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan (v. 23).
Remember, an offense is a trap of the devil to cause you to fall. When discouragement comes, act just like Jesus and do exactly what He did – rebuke it! Notice that I said to rebuke it, not the person who offended you. Jesus rebuked the devil, not Peter.
If you have been hurt, you know that sometimes you are tempted to feel sorry for yourself. But don’t give in to the devil. Get up and exercise your authority over him in the name of Jesus, boldly speaking fort the Word of God!
Written by: Reverend Kate McVeigh
