May 16, 2024
When God Blesses Someone Who Hurt You
LAUREN VANDER LINDEN, COMPEL Training Member
Lee en español
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)
I couldn’t believe it. A viral post showed up in my feed, starring someone who had hurt me. It was hard to see others liking and commenting praise, so I immediately got off Instagram.
I was not prepared to start my day this way.
Have you ever witnessed someone get something you feel they didn’t deserve? Maybe you’re hoping for a husband, and the girl who was unkind to you got married first. Perhaps someone’s business is thriving, but their ethics are questionable. Maybe a pastor or mentor hurt you, but their ministry is growing.
It leaves us asking, “Why?”
A man named Ananias was left asking the same question in Scripture. Ananias challenged God’s assignment to pray over and heal Saul, a man who had been persecuting Christians (Acts 9). God quickly answered Ananias by sharing His plan to use Saul, now better known as Paul, to spread the gospel.
Despite this, I can’t help but wonder if Ananias felt that Saul didn’t deserve to be prayed for, much less used by God! However, Ananias’ obedience allowed him to be a catalyst for God’s plan.
Here are some thoughts to remember when wrestling with past hurt and feelings of unfairness:
- When something good happens to someone, it doesn’t always mean God condones their actions.
Too often, I think if God allows something good to happen to someone, it’s because they’ve lived a life worthy of blessing. But we know God did not condone Saul murdering Christians! The idea that God only blesses us when we deserve it was abolished on the cross, where Jesus died to give us unmerited grace.
- God fulfills His mission through imperfect people.
It’s ironic that as an imperfect person, I’m frustrated when God uses imperfect people. In heaven, we can imagine that Paul has met many believers whose lives were cut short because of him. But countless more believers have entered heaven because God chose to use imperfect Paul to guide them to Jesus. I’m thankful our imperfections don’t stop God from using us.
- God has great things in store for you too.
Being hesitant to celebrate others’ blessings is often rooted in wondering if God has good things in store for us. But 1 Corinthians 2:9 reminds us: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Ananias chose obedience over his understanding. Because of this, he was a catalyst for Paul’s ministry to millions! Ananias was confident enough in God’s plan for his own life that he could bless someone else’s ministry.
May we trust God and surrender our understanding when He chooses to bless people we feel aren’t worthy.
Lord, lift up my head to fix my eyes on You. Help me remember that Your ways are higher and that You have great things in store for all who believe. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
To further navigate past hurt and embrace forgiveness, you can get Lauren Vander Linden’s new book, I Want to Move On. Get yours today, or gift one to a friend who’s struggling!
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FOR DEEPER STUDY
Isaiah 55:9, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (NIV).
Has God ever asked you to pray for or bless someone you didn’t want to? What is one thing you can do to cultivate an attitude like Ananias'?
What is something great God has done in your life? How is God currently using you to impact people?
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share them in the comments today.
© 2024 by Lauren Vander Linden. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org