Can We Trust God Enough to Pray for Our “Enemies”?
By Sheryl H. Boldt
How would you feel if someone you’d hurt chose to pray for you? Even while they were still dealing with the pain you caused them? What would it mean to know they were lifting you up daily to their heavenly Father? And what if we turn this question around? How often do we pray for those who hurt us?
Luke 6:28 (ESV) says, “bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” This is tough to read, much less obey. Now let’s read the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition: “Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God’s blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you].”
Doesn’t this seem like an impossible—yet incredible—command from Jesus? ‘Impossible’ because the hurt is still so raw. The injustice can’t be undone. ‘Incredible’ because it’s an extraordinary response to injustice, a Jesus-kind-of response. Do we have the kind of walk with God that enables us to respond in this way?
In other words, do we trust God’s love for us enough to sincerely pray for God to bless those who insult, take advantage of, or mistreat us? Or are we too afraid to trust Him with our pain, our anger, our hunger for justice? If we’re honest, wouldn’t we prefer to pray for our enemies to suffer—at least as much as we’re suffering?
This is often the case with me. I’m embarrassed by how hard it is for me to forgive, much less pray for my offender. Recently, a close friend stole from me and lied about it. His betrayal stung. The last thing I wanted to do was pray for him to be blessed. But I knew what would happen if I didn’t.
When someone behaves in a mean-spirited manner toward us, it can suck us into an emotionally and spiritually dark place. Hatred and not forgiving—not to mention the physical or financial repercussions we have to deal with—disrupt our lives on many levels. The resulting destructive spiral can be more devastating than the offense committed against us.
Once we’re caught in this downward spiral, we’re trapped. Unless… we apply Jesus’ words and pray for those who have devastated us—the ones who least deserve but most need our prayers. And while it’s sometimes necessary to separate ourselves from physical or mental abuse, God still calls us to pray for our abusers.
We can trust our heavenly Father to know what to do with our prayers, especially when we pray for those who have mistreated us. As we keep in mind that it’s God’s desire to transform every life, it becomes easier to pray for the happiness of those who abuse us. Happiness includes being whole. So, as God continues His work of transforming our abuser’s heart, He can bring them to a place where they will no longer want to abuse us or anyone else.
There are other benefits when we obey God in this area. As we continue to pray for those who have hurt us, God uses our obedience to heal our emotions and release us from painful memories. I’m already beginning to experience this as I walk (sometimes crawl) my way through my recent betrayal.
When we allow our heavenly Father to lead us in this impossible, incredible, Jesus-kind-of response, imagine what a witness He will be to the one who offended us—and to anyone who knows about the wrong done to us.
It could be life changing.
Sheryl H. Boldt is the author of the blog, www.TodayCanBeDifferent.net can be reached at [email protected]
