Image: Italy Melo, Pexels
When they came to the place called The Skull,
they nailed him to the cross,
[and] Jesus said,“Father, forgive them,
for they don’t know what they are doing”
(Luke 23,33-4. NLT).
1. My anxious brooding
Generates this dread, Lord:
My mind goes through what happened
Without pause –
2. My friend, the one I trusted,
Turned against me,
Attacking me, and wounding,
Without cause.
3. Every time I think of him
Please prompt me
To pray: “Lord, bless my enemy
With good”,
4. Then leave him in your hand
For my protection,
Whilst you, Lord, heal us both,
With your great love.
References
1. The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me (Job 30,27. NIV).
2. My close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me (Psalm 41,9. NIV).
They beset me with words of hate, and attack me without cause (Psalm 109,3. RSV).
3. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you (Luke 6.28, NLT).
Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (Matthew 5,44. NLT).
4. In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12,10. NIV).
My God is my rock, in whom I find protection (2 Samuel 22,3. NLT).
By his wounds you are healed (1 Peter 2,24. NLT).
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15,13. NLT).
I remember all too well the pain of being attacked by someone who I held dear in fellowship. I was stunned and shocked, I could find no reasoning in it…all I knew was that it hurt to the deepest recesses of my heart. It has been years since but I still remember it painfully. I did the only thing I could do, I left my hurt and tears with God in prayer. It is only in His everlasting arms I found any peace.
Thank you for sharing this very painful memory with me, Alan. Like you, I knew instantly that I had been dealt a mortal blow. I’m following in your footsteps. Isn’t it amazing how God brings good even out of bad things, though? XXXXXXX
In all such circumstances our Father God not only soothes our hurt, but He strengthens us for the future ahead of us. He has our lives and the world in His hands!
This is so true. I’m actually just writing today about life as a healing journey. Hopefully it will be ready for tomorrow XXXXX
Looking forward to tomorrow’s post now.😉
I’ve just finished it, and am now drained. Writing is so hard, isn’t it? XXXXX
Well done sister, I look forward to it. You are so right though, writing can be hard work indeed mentally and emotionally. I have had incidents of being physically tired too. I play chess too and it completely saps me in tough games, although I am not playing a lot lately.
Sending lots of understanding and shared sympathy: i have chronic fatigue, as well as cancer, and my very limited energy runs out quickly, every day xxxxx