Life: Respond with Prayer*

The harsh reality of this life is that we are going to get our feelings hurt more often than not. We call our husband to say hi, right after the combine breaks, and his rushed tone makes us feel insignificant. Our best friend seems distracted when we call her with a problem. Someone brings up something from the past that we aren't very proud of. A coworker grumbles under their breath about a small mistake we've made. A stranger states an opinion online that we take personally. 

Feelings are hurt. And if you are anything like me, you want to defend yourself. You want your hurt to be known, and you want to stand up for the hurt part of you. You want to fix the hurt by hurting the other. Maybe you respond to your husband with a snide remark, or worse you hang up before saying goodbye. Maybe you tell yourself that the next time your best friend calls with her problems, you'll be too busy to talk. Maybe you let the comment about your past fester into bitterness. Maybe you snap back to your coworker causing tension to linger for the rest of the work day. Maybe you post something online in response to the strangers opinion. 

If there is one thing I've learned about myself, when I am feeling hurt, I hurt people. I say something I don't mean, I post something that is uncalled for, I let negative thoughts form about people I care about. I take things personally that were never intended to offend me. I act first, and think after. Which usually leads to regret. Unfortunately once a text is sent to my husband that's laced with anger, it can't be unread. Once a negative attitude in the workplace is started, it spreads like disease. Once a harsh comment is posted online it can't be unseen. 

The thing about hurt is it clouds our thinking. It says "you are justified in your actions." But this is the furthest thing from the truth. After a recent situation, where I wanted to let my hurt fuel a response to another individual, I turned to my bible. I said a simple prayer : "Lord, help me respond." 

I opened to the book of Matthew. My eye was drawn to a few verses I had underlined. 

"DON'T HIT BACK. If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. "

"When someone gives you a hard time, respond with prayer. "

Immediately after reading these verses, I deleted my response, I put my fists down, and turned my hands up. I chose not to hit back. Instead, I responded with prayer, for both myself, and the other individual. 

How many moments of regret could be avoided if only we'd turn to prayer when hurt arose. Instead of lashing out with hurt stained words and actions, we'd send up our hurt to God, and let him be our band-aid.