Series: Call Me
Psalm 91:14-16 ESV
John 13:34 ESV
John 11:35 ESV
I’ve been struggling with protecting myself from someone I met.
She verbally and physically broke the rules of common decency and publicly targeted me.
The confrontation on her part came about because I did not support her position. Please understand I could have called the police to report her. I knew they would probably not file charges, but they would more than likely have written her a warning citation.
The action she took was her effort to intimidate and control me. Understand she is probably at least six inches taller than me.
Because I knew it would not have resulted in action, I did not call the police but chose to end future contact with her. I do have the right to defend myself by ending contact. I know God does not want me to be a doormat.
Psalm 91:14-16 tells us, “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
I also know that God holds fast to me in love.
I know that God delivers me.
God protects me.
I know God knows my name.
Because God knows my name when God calls to me I answer Him.
I know, without doubt that God is and will be with me in times of trouble.
I know God will rescue me and I sit with God even now in a place of honor with God.
I believe God will satisfy me with long life, either on earth or in God’s eternal presence.
Daily God shows me and assures me of salvation through Jesus.
I KNOW those things.
John 13:34 says God gave us, a new commandment, “that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
I know we are called to love one another.
What I DO NOT know is how to love this woman.
I pray for her that she will come to a place where she realizes she needs to receive God’s love. I pray that she will not use physical intimidation on me or on anyone else.
I have learned in life that while I am called to love, I am not called to be a punching bag.
I am sad for her that she may not know what it’s like to hold fast to God in love.
I am sad that she may not have been delivered.
IT pains me to know that she may not know God’s protection.
I am filled with sorrow that she may not know God’s name.
I am sad that God is calling her name but she may not hear it and answer.
I am torn that she may be facing trouble alone and even though God wants to rescue her and honor her, she may literally not hear God.
I am sorry that she may not have the satisfaction from knowing God’s love.
I wonder if she had a daddy who sat with her, counseled her, and loved her day in and day out.
I wonder if her Mom dressed her and combed her hair to get her ready for church.
I wonder, did a Sunday School teacher teach her to sing “Jesus Loves Me”?
Did anyone tell her as a child about the eternal life that awaits her in heaven.
I wonder all of that because I DID have that.
My heart breaks at the thought that she may not have had any of that.
Personally I think God’s heart breaks, too. I think God really wants her to come.
I remember Jesus crying in John 11:35 we are told that “Jesus wept” when his friend Lazarus died. Jesus even knew he would see Lazarus again and yet He wept.
I think God weeps for those who were not taught to love Him. I think it just may be possible that God weeps for her…
Spiritual Practice: Pray
Pray today for someone who may not know Jesus.
In God, Deborah
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