Sept. 11 Devotion: The Hurt From Within

The Hurt From Within

Psalm 55:12-14

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: [13] But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. [14] We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

Some of the deepest hurts in our lives don’t come from our enemies. They come from people we trusted.

David understood that pain. This wasn’t someone he expected to oppose him. It was his acquaintance—someone with whom he had shared counsel and even walked to the house of God, Scripture says.

Unfortunately, the same thing can happen in church. Someone says something hurtful, a friend disappoints us, or maybe someone we respected lets us down. What’s sad is that sometimes the hurt is so deep that people decide they don’t want anything to do with church anymore.

It’s then we must remember something important: Jesus never told us to put our faith in people. He told us to put our faith in Him.

People will disappoint us. Christians will make mistakes. Regardless of titles or positions, the church is still made up of imperfect people. If our faithfulness to God depends upon how other people treat us, eventually someone will give us a reason to quit. That is why our eyes must remain upon Christ.

Hebrews 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

When someone in church hurts you, don’t allow their actions to damage your relationship with the One who has never failed you. Don’t walk away from God because someone else failed to act like Him. People will disappoint us, but Jesus never will. Keep your eyes on Jesus, fully put your trust in Him, and don’t allow others to disrupt your walk with God.

God bless,

Bro. Josh Richardson