WHEN YOU’RE MISTREATED


Avoid The Victim Mentality

One reaction to mistreatment is to feel robbed — robbed of life, future, destiny, inheritance and joy. This sets the stage for despair, resentment and bitterness. A person in this condition will see himself as a victim rather than in the hands of God. The victim mentality is very destructive because it is difficult to get a person free from rebellion when he enters it as a result of being victimized.

When a person has been robbed of something, he feels justified in his sin, in his carnal reactions, and in his bitterness and anger. He blames others, and that is a first step toward irresolution, defeat, and failure. If we think others are responsible for our condition, we will also think they are responsible to fix it… and they rarely do. We wait in anger with our focus on our oppressors rather than placing ourselves in the hands of God and moving forward.
Dealing with life redemptively means that whatever other people, the devil, or circumstances deal out to us, we hold to our faith in God and persevere in surrender and obedience to Him. We do not act as victims but cast ourselves upon God.

Don't Blame Others

Often Christians subconsciously feel they have an excuse for sin and failure when conditions are unfavorable and when the fire is too hot. It is human nature to excuse ourselves and to blame others. We do not naturally tend to accept responsibility for our condition and conduct. We prefer to blame bad circumstances, bad people, or the devil for our disgraceful state. This tendency to blame others results in our failure to face life redemptively.

No Christian should allow circumstances, the devil, or anyone else to be the cause of his disobeying the Lord or failing to accomplish God's will for his life. A Christian's obedience does not depend on his environment or the behavior of others. Therefore, he cannot blame others when he withdraws from obedient and useful service to God. 

Don't give Others the Power

"Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you." Galatians 5:7-8.

We place ourselves into the hands of wicked men when we allow their actions to determine our condition. Moses disobeyed the Lord because of the rebellion in the people around him, and consequently was not permitted to enter the land. We are often vexed and harassed by the sins of others, but we must not use the acts of wicked men as excuse for our own disobedience. David said, "Let not the hand of the wicked drive me away" (Ps.36:11). With this prayer he is expressing a determination to not allow others to provoke him to do anything displeasing to the Lord. Whatever others may do, I will follow Jesus.

To place blame on other people and the devil when we fail in our walk with God is a form of deception and error. We can be vexed and harassed by external forces, but our decisions, our choices, and our integrity rest ultimately with ourselves alone before God and with our response of faith and obedience.

Follow Godly Examples

The Bible is full of testimonies and examples of saints who bore up under suffering and adversity, who pleased God by maintaining godliness and faith, and who saw the reality of God's ability and willingness to work all things together for good and unto His purpose. Their examples teach us not to use anything or anybody in our environment as a rationalization for disobedience or as a justification for displeasing God.
It is a deception to think an ungodly condition is the consequence of what others have done to us. Environment and others may bring pain and suffering, but they have no control over my spirit. If my response to life is ungodly, I will answer to God for that. Others will answer to God for the way they treat me, but they will not answer for my response — that will be my portion. Other people might cause me to stumble. They will answer to God for their sins against me. But if my response reflects disobedience, stubbornness, or rebellion toward God, I will be held accountable at judgment with no one to blame but myself.

God has designed it so that we can choose life or death in every situation. Like Jesus we can love and pray for those who despitefully use us. Like Paul we can rejoice in our suffering for Christ's sake. When we suffer unjustly, we should follow Christ's example, keep our heart right, and entrust our soul to the Righteous Judge (I Peter 2). When we suffer justly (i.e., when we deserve it) we bear it patiently for Christ's sake. In either case, we humble ourselves before God and stand in faith.

Visit my website to order copies of my book:
www.billylongministries.com

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