DOMINION OVER DARTS OF HURTS

“WEGIVE NO OFFENSE in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed” – 2 Corinthians 6:3

The Victorious Life in Christ comes with the Grace to exercise DOMINION over DARTS of HURT: “WE GIVE NO OFFENSE in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed” (2Cor.6:3). Hurts refer to emotional injury, pain, or distress caused by an offence – someone’s words, attitude, action, or inaction. To hurt someone means to have a bad effect on them or cause them injury or harm. We feel hurt when we think that we have been treated badly or judged unfairly. Hurts produce anger, disappointment, or frustration. They are like pointed, painful darts that sink deep into the heart! Hurts could result in intense heartaches or crushing heartbreaks.

If care is not taken, people even hurt the ones they love. Love is closely connected to vulnerability: the ability to hurt and to be hurt. And when we wound another person, emotionally or mentally, we feel wounded as well. Hurting others may lead to feelings of anxiety, guilt and agitation within us. Hurting others hurts us too! Our response to the Grace of God substantially determines whether we adopt positive or negative approaches to handling hurts. Paul admonished: “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the GRACE of GOD in vain” (v.1). God is Just. Anger at injustice is sanctioned by scriptures. However, we must not allow anger to rule our hearts and attitude: “Be angry, but do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Eph. 4:26).

Negative attitudes to hurts include: To internalize the mental, emotional, or social pain, mulling over it in our mind, questioning why we must be the victim; to build anger within that could explode in uncontrolled violence; or to sink deep into bitterness and regret while trying to seek revenge. Others try to hide their frustration or feelings of anger and become depressed, or allow destructive emotions to wear them down. Worst still, hurt people tend to hurt people! Often bullies are individuals who themselves have been subjected to or are currently enduring some form of emotional torture or physical pain.

Positive attitudes to hurts include: To admit we are hurting and turn our cares, concerns, rights, and expectations over to the Lord – “Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom He may devour.” (1Pet.5:7). Handling hurt productively involves learning to forgive and leave vengeance in the hands of the Lord: “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of ALL MEN. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably will ALL MEN. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay” (Rom.12:17-19). Verse 21 concludes: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

God could allow hurts into our lives even from dear friends and relatives for good reasons. Joseph was hurt but used of God to preserve posterity for his people. God turned his tragedy into a triumph and promoted him to a position of great influence and power. He uses trials to produce in us greater purity, holiness, wisdom, maturity, hope, stability, insight, depth, endurance, vision, profitable experience, and expertise. It’s our choice to turn the controls of everything over to the Lord and allow Him to bless, heal, restore, enable, guide, inspire, and empower us. We cannot overcome hurts by human efforts, but by the Help of the Holy Spirit deploying the resources available to us in Christ: “…. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phi.2:1-4). Selflessness through Christlikeness is crucial to handling hurts!

Our interpretation of hurts influences our reactions. We can choose to forgive and become BETTER rather than BITTER, believing that even hurts can work for us a far greater weight of glory (2Cor.4:16-18; Jam. 1:2-4). We can thank and praise God for life’s trials – including hurts, rather than wallow in self-pity and pain.