Your Foes Are Friends

Whew. THIS Word – I thank God for it.

He knows the betrayal and the pain I’ve endured at the hands of others. People I thought I could trust; people I thought loved me and cared for me the way I loved and cared for them. But when the truth of who they were in MY life was revealed, I was devastated! I didn’t know how to cope, how to accept that what I WANTED to believe about that person’s purpose in my life was entirely different from GOD’S PURPOSE for that person. And I struggled, y’all. I prayed for that person’s condemnation, that the person receive God’s wrath and judgment and that karma take its appropriate action too! My hate was real. It was consuming. It was destructive. But here’s the irony…all that negative energy I was putting out there, all those hate-filled prayers I made to God, that stuff came back to me! I was miserable, unhappy, bitter and resentful. And the person who trespassed against me was living life with no thought of me. Talk about wasted time and energy…

How much of yourself has been wasted, how much of your power have you unwittingly given out,  thinking about, worrying over, praying for outcomes as a result of someone who hurt you? Think about it – you already invested your energy, your essence into the person/situation and then AFTER you were wronged, you STILL invested more energy and essence analyzing and dramatizing what ALREADY HAPPENED! I spent MONTHS stewing over someone who did me wrong and I PROMISE YALL that person had already moved on from what was done, felt no remorse, and 100% was living their best life! Meanwhile, I’m struggling to make sense of what happened and vilifying the person, plotting out all types of ways to “get back” (I never took action; it was just cathartic to imagine retribution…don’t act like y’all haven’t done the same! 😑) I eventually got to a point where I knew God wanted me to release my anger and seek Him for comfort. So, that’s what I did. When I felt the old feelings of betrayal and hate bubbling within me, I’d immediately pray for God’s peace. When I felt the urgings of my flesh to pray for God’s wrath, I instead prayed for His mercy. And the most wonderful transformation began to take part inside of me – I was given God’s mercy! He revealed to me the lesson in the transgression. He used the actions of that person to perform a vital healing in me!

God knows the Purpose He placed in you. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

It is His Will to see it through. “For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God.” Acts 20:27 

He will use whomever, whatever to get it done. “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:25

This is the portion to remember! ▶▶▶Those who trespass against you are bringing blessing(s) (lessons)! But, if you’re focused on the transgression, you’ll miss the lesson(s) (blessings)! Now I might lose some folks with this next statement…those who trespassed against you will be blessed too for serving their purpose in blessing you! Therefore being consumed with negativity because you can’t get past WHAT HAPPENED will only delay the BLESSING on your life! You might as well have an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE and PRAISE GOD for what you endured and learned as a result! Anything else is a WASTE OF TIME! 

There is nothing natural of our flesh to see those who wronged against us as God’s tools to bless us. It requires submitting the desires of your flesh to the supplication of your spirit to God. There is great joy and peace in living as Christ died. His sacrifice was so we could know forgiveness. As God forgives us, we forgive others. We learn to accept the wrongs of others as rights within us; however that looks to you – you’re stronger because of what you endured; you’re wiser; you’re more empathetic; you’re more patient; you’re more caring; you’re more loving; you’re healed – these are blessings. They are God’s gifts. Don’t miss out on the blessings focusing on the way they came!

Jesus KNEW Judas was going to betray Him! He is the Son of God. He easily could’ve stopped Judas from answering. Jesus also knew the cost of His death and that Judas’ betrayal had to happen in order for our gift of Eternal Life with God. How many of us would allow someone to hurt us if we knew exactly what would happen? How many of us would trust God’s plan and knowingly sacrifice ourselves? How many of us have been shown mercy through the sacrifice of another’s pain?