“Let not mercy and truth forsake you....”
All of us have been in the position where someone wronged us, and it is hurtful.
This happened to me at my job just recently and I wanted to share how I responded.
When this incident at work happened, it hit me hard.
I was stunned by the lack of consideration on behalf of the wrong doer.
My response was immediate, and my attitude began to stink up the office.
My coworker, who is a guy, picked up on it right away. He gently asked me, "Is something wrong?"
Initially I said, "No."
He continued his way, walking past my desk and into the kitchen to make his coffee.
On his way back by my desk, I said, "You know, I'm really hurt."
Then I proceeded to tell him what happened.
He was also in shock over the incident and thus understood my attitude.
My coworker, who is a Christian as well, voiced he would've felt the same way had this "thing" happened to him.
My boss, who was the wrong doer, shows up before too long and pulls me aside to apologize - kind of.
I told him that I understood he was sorry things went the way they did, "However, you were wrong," I said.
My boss did not accept that he was wrong, but glossed his actions over and somehow made it my doing.
The morning continued as normal in the office; except I held a major grudge against my boss.
This incident that had happened was not only embarrassing but involved so much more than what he was apologizing for and acknowledging.
I literally felt this could be the end of my job. No joke.
During lunch, I went back home; I needed to clear my head.
Taking my lunch out on my back deck, I tried to release some tension by taking in the beauty of the backyard with my two doggies.
The morning really rattled me, and I just needed some peace.
So, I turned to Proverbs Chapter 3.
Being that it was the 3rd day of the month, I thought I would read the Proverbs for that day.
As I read, I came across the verse, "Let not mercy and truth forsake you.....bind it upon your neck; write them upon the table of your heart......then you will find favor and good understanding in the sight of God....and man."
Immediately the Lord quickened this verse to me.
I felt like I just opened to this chapter and started reading, and the Lord quickened this verse to me so fast!
He didn't want to waste any time!
In that moment I knew the Lord was calling me to walk in mercy towards my boss.
"C'mon Lord, I need to feel this anger towards my boss! What he did was so wrong!"
As I sat there mulling this verse over, I recognized that I had come to a crossroads.
I could either become bitter and nasty towards my boss, and really make him pay for what he did - by hanging this over his head indefinitely, even quitting if I had too.
Or I could walk in mercy, by overlooking his actions and forgiving him.
I realized the Lord was being merciful to me, by reminding me to be merciful to others.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."
He loves me so much, that He didn't want me to go another step without walking in mercy.
Having an unforgiving heart and holding onto grudges brings destruction to a person's heart, and life.
Having an unforgiving heart drives wedges between people, bringing division and disharmony.
Since I am a child of God and have given my heart to the Lord, He wants me to act like one of His children.
God's strongest character trait is that He is merciful, and He wants me to take after Him; as His daughter, he wants me to show mercy and forgive others.
When "mercy and truth" are written on the tables of our heart, and bound around our neck, they aren't easily forgotten, but become a part of us.
Then, wherever you go, and whomever you meet, no matter what, mercy and truth are always with you.
As I continued to read Proverbs chapter 3, it tells us that, "We will find good understanding in the sight of God and man," when we carry mercy and truth with us.
The chapter goes on to say, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
When I looked at the situation that happened in the office through my own eyes, I am disgusted by my boss's behavior.
In my own understanding, I feel like he should pay somehow, because he really hurt me.
In fact, in my own understanding of the whole situation, I don't think he deserves to be forgiven.
But the Lord's perspective is so different than ours. That is why He counsels us not to lean on our own understanding, but to acknowledge Him in everything.
So, I concluded right there on the deck, that "His ways are higher than MY ways."
And HIS WAY right now - was to show mercy.
And when I acknowledged this - it brought life and cleansed my heart of the growing grudge against my boss.
The Lord was speaking to me in that moment, during my lunch hour, to release this grudge.
So, I did.
I relinquished my right to be "right" in this situation and handed my grudge over to the Lord.
Later, when I returned to the office after lunch, my co-worker was expecting me to have the same attitude as when I left.
Much to his surprise, I was back to normal.
He took note of it, then carried on as if nothing had happened, and hasn't brought the situation up again since.
My boss on the other hand, was in a state of shock and disbelief.
He was totally expecting me to throw attitude at him, but it didn't happen.
He scrutinized me with his eyes, searched me, and watched me very carefully as he spoke to me.
Looking for any sign of animosity towards him....and he didn't find one speck of it in me.
Nothing of the morning's incident revealed itself in anyway.
He was amazed, and I got quite a kick out of it, hahaha.
Relief washed over him, and he relaxed his stance. He was really in awe.
I knew in that moment I had shown mercy and won his favor.
The Lord spoke His "rhema" word to me - to be merciful, and it quickened my spirit and brought forth His righteousness in me!
Because I accepted this "rhema" word from the Lord, grace abounded within me and enabled me to walk in love towards my boss - thus glorifying my Heavenly Father above.
I do hope my Heavenly Father was pleased with me that day!
I think He was :-)
For I overcame my own thoughts and walked in mercy, just like He quickened me to do so.
And at the end of the day, I was free in my heart.
And I still had a job!
"Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."
Father - please continue to direct all my paths as I look to you for heavenly direction in all I say or do.
Read more prayers for direction in daily life at MY PRAYER JOURNAL and trust Him to lead you as you prayer.
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Blessings ~
My Sun & Shade
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