Trusting God When Others Treat Us Unjustly
By: Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading:
Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes. - Psalm 37:7
How do you typically respond when someone does something to sabotage your plans or goals, or in some way makes your life difficult? What if they do this intentionally? Do you feel vulnerable and like they hold power over some aspect of your life? Do you find your anxiety spiking? And if so, does your fear ever present as anger and hostility?
Sadly, I’ve reacted to such situations in each of those ways, especially when I felt the other person held power over something I considered important. This never yielded the results I’d hoped for. Most often, in fact, my reactions only made things worse. In some instances, my dysregulated emotions and the behaviors they triggered hurt me more than the “offense.”
Although I still have much room for growth, I’m learning to follow David’s example, not just in today’s verse, but throughout his life. (His near homicidal rage in 1 Samuel 24 and his treatment of Bathsheba, which many scholars call rape, notwithstanding.) If you’re familiar with Old Testament history, you may recognize his long, fearful, and discouraging journey to the throne. The most prominent prophet of his day anointed him as ancient Israel’s future king when David was a teenager. But he didn’t step into his calling for another decade and a half. He spent much of the time in between living as a fugitive, hiding in caves and enemy territory in fear for his life.
He knew God had glorious plans for him. Although he wrote psalms in which he seemed to express some degree of doubt, he trusted the Lord to do for him all that He’d promised. This trust, and the relational intimacy that supported it, allowed him to remain his godly, spiritually mature self, even when experiencing relentless attack.
This amazes me when I consider the emotional weight he carried. When we first meet him, he stepped into a heroic role that gained him access to Saul, the then-reigning king. Soon after, the young warrior moved into the palace, where he faithfully served. He also led the nation of Israel into numerous victories, including against one of their fiercest enemies, the Philistines. One might expect Saul to respond with gratitude. Instead, he became jealous. Feeling threatened, he spent the remainder of his life pursuing David in order to kill him.
As a result, David found himself forced from his home and his wife when Saul sent men to stake out his house, again, to kill him. During his flight, he sought help from a priest, who gave him bread and a highly symbolic sword for self-defense. He soon learned, however, that Saul found out and sent one of his men to kill all the priests serving at that particular temple—and their families. Women and children were massacred because one man offered David aid.
Understandably, he blamed himself for their deaths.
Can you imagine how that must’ve felt?
Around age 30, David became king and brought peace to His people. He likely wrote Psalm 37 sometime during this time. Reflecting on his life, his suffering, and how God remained faithful through it all, David confidently proclaimed, in essence, to whoever might listen, “Don’t stress about the actions of evil men. God’s got you. Relax and wait for Him to lead you to your best life.”
Intersecting Life & Faith:
When we feel under attack and tempted to immediately jump into “fix it” mode, may we instead intentionally still ourselves before the Lord, which implies being still in His presence. That’s where we’re most apt to receive His comfort and strength and hear His perfect wisdom regarding how to respond to our circumstances. Entrusting our situation to God can feel incredibly uncomfortable. It becomes easier, however, when we remember His heart toward us, His power consistently employed on our behalf, and His faithfulness. We can choose to quietly wait on Him to reveal our best path forward, knowing He’s never wrong or ill-informed.
He's also never late, although in my experience, his interventions rarely arrive early. It certainly didn’t for David! Although the Lord remained with him at every step and often worked behind the scenes on the warrior’s behalf, it took Him years to fulfill the promise He made to youthful David.
That long, painful delay required significant patience and perseverance through a rather exhausting delay.
David understood how difficult it can feel to wait, which is why, years later, he could advise his people, us, and countless others besides, to patiently wait on God—trusting Him to make our circumstances right.
Friend, wicked people might make your present situation more painful and difficult than it needs to be. But they cannot thwart God’s very good, hope-filled plans for you. Remember that the next time someone does something that leaves you feeling vulnerable and threatened. Remember that Christ Himself guards your path and invites you to follow His guidance as He leads you to the glorious destination He determined just for you.
Further Reading:
2 Samuel 22:3
Psalm 18:1-6
Psalm 54:4
How did today’s devotional speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Crosswalk Devotional discussion.
Photo Credit: GettyImages/fizkes
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
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