Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“He will send from heaven and save me, he will put to shame those who trample on me. God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.”
NL Daily Devotion for Wednesday, June 30, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Ooh, I’d love to have God “put to shame” people who have hurt me. Well, only on my bad days. The truth is that what happens to other people is none of my business. My job is to set healthy boundaries, with God’s help, and remove myself from situations in which I am being trampled. (Not everyone has the ability to do that—I am fully acknowledging that here, and don’t wish to detract from folks in those circumstances.)
I still find myself resentful of people who have hurt me deeply in my life—only a very few, actually—and just wishing they would wake up and realize how their words and actions were harmful, and be ashamed of them. But I know it’s probably never going to happen. So I’ll just go with the rest of this verse: God saves me from the situation (God gave me the strength and resources to remove myself) and God sends forth steadfast love and faithfulness. What more can I ask for?
Gracious God, I am filled with gratitude for your presence in my difficulties and your loving support as I make healthy changes in my life. Amen.
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