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Secular View versus Faith View III - Offended ...

Wednesday, Oct 8, 2014. What is it that controls our reactions? Is it possible that faith changes our reaction patterns, that God is there to guide us in a particular situation, for example when it comes to some crisis? When you are offended by someone?

What to do, how to react? …

How do you react, when you are offended? I am confronted with a personal example currently, I have put a lot of work into some important project, which is led by other people. I am deliverer of some components with my unit, which then need to be put together to a complete system and then the complete system needs to be tuned and worked with. But the leaders of the whole thing and the main component of the system do not want to involve me into their decisions, even though my people are crucial parts of the tuning process. It is just annoying - and also quite offensive.

So how to react. What are the options? First, I thought it is just the old stupid power game. Some want to be in power and want to demonstrate this to those who are dependents.

But I also had to realize that sometimes the feelings which you have deeper in your heart do not follow my pure reason. I can tell me many times, that it is best to ignore it, I am still upset about the behavior. And I am tempted to either file an official complaint or some counter attack, by saying how bad I feel the behaviour is and that it damages the whole work, from my point of view.

Prayer Session …

So I came to the point that I stopped thinking about any measures, except for one: prayer. Lord, I want this to go a good way. I want my feelings to follow your way. I want my reason to follow you. I have no doubt that you have the wisdom and the truthfulness and the power to judge the situation, to give good guidance and to act as it is good for all of us.

There is a clear command in Romans 12: 19: Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” That is what God tells us, when it comes to situations where we are offended. We are allowed to clearly say what has happened. It is good to search help, when you are in a situation, where you need help. In my particular situation this is not the case. I can live with the offense. I can try to keep it from affecting work and motivation too much. I also think that some consequences cannot be avoided.

I think that it is a key part of faith life to go through the challenges of our daily work with the spirit of the Lord. Faith life does not mean that we know it all ahead of time. It does not mean that suddenly we would be completely wise. It does not mean that there are no conflicts. It does not mean that we are never hurt. But it means that God helps us to learn and to change within the challenges. In the conflicts we experience his peace. In the hurt we find his healing. Even if we do not yet see his mighty hand resolving the situation - he can come and he will come and carry out his work. He is the living Lord, and he loves everyone of us deeply! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts