This was shared with our local group of young people:
The sinfulness in every person's heart, including mine, clouds situations and makes others think they know you when all they really know is their perception of you based on so many different hidden factors that I wonder how we can ever have enough pride to think we can even begin to guess what is going on inside someone else.
We are all guilty of it.
We are all also victim of it at one time or another.
When you find yourself wanting to defend yourself, I encourage you to be still and know God is enough for your situation. Forgive them quickly (Ephesians 4:26) and resolve to love them with kindness (love is an action verb) even when they are unloving towards you.
Work towards unity with other believers. The old adage is true, "United, we are strong. Divided, we fall." When there is a a division, we are more vulnerable to sinning. Some people may never want unity, but that speaks of their heart just as loudly as the actions do of those seeking it.
Dear Reader, You pull the weeds in your heart, do the right things, and let God deal with them. It could be your Father, who knows all and sees all, is protecting you from the trouble they would stir up because their hearts are not truly right with Him in that situation.
I know that there is someone to defend me and that he lives!
And in the end, he will stand here on earth and defend me.
Job 19:25
