Posts by Beth

It is true in this life that “stuff happens.” Some of these things are minor annoyances and some are major traumas. Of course, there are also the things that bring us joy or peace. Sadly, there seems to be an ever increasing number of the harder things for people rather than for the joyful and peaceful.

We may or may not be responsible for what happens to us but we are responsible for how we respond to what happens. This is as true for when we contend for the faith as it is when it is a family problem.

From a worldly point of view, the trauma that is experienced in life and how it is dealt with are the things that makes a difference. Indeed, these are important factors from any viewpoint. In God’s law injustice must be met with justice. Without justice, our feelings (often fear, anxiety, and anger) are left unsettled.

In a set of circumstances where we are the victim of someone else’s sin, it may be hard to see that justice is done. Our culture is not a just culture according to God’s Law. But, from a Christian worldview we can know that God will bring vengeance against unrepented sin. Romans 12:19 says, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.”

It may take time to resolve all of our feelings as true trauma is a real problem including reliving the moments and feeling the emotions repeatedly for a time. But, eventually, the Lord will bring peace when our faith rests in His ability to use all things for our good (ultimately, even when it doesn’t feel like it in the moment).

From a Christian Worldview, faith that the Lord will act with justice is what brings us victory over the temptation to exact revenge. Waiting on the courts or the Lord may be difficult but will bring the greatest resolution to the issues.  It makes the difference between the victim and the victor.

A faithful Christian will trust God, through His Son, Jesus, to guide us along every threatening path, through every traumatic event any difficult relationship or conversation, and away from all evil so that we experience the peace that comes through faith. This does not mean that we will not experience what God says are “temptations common to man” (1 Corinthians 10:13). After hard life events we are tempted to remain anxious, angry or fearful and wanting revenge. In faith, we can trust God to help us work our way out of these feelings.

Those who embrace victimhood, on the other hand, will back away from the difficult path of facing the fear and accepting that, even if the problem was caused by someone else, we are personally responsible to respond in faith, looking forward and not backward,

By refusing to consciously remind ourselves of the Lord’s compassion, His presence with us, and His strength to heal us, we are left in a “victim mentality” that often spreads to all of life.

God uses the hard, as well as the easy, circumstances of life to grow our faith and our character. He uses all of this to advance His own Kingdom on earth as others recognize His work in the Victor’s life.

It looks like, as Christians, we will be facing some hard times in our culture. The people of our day hate our belief in the Word of God regarding all the “hot topics” of our time. We go into this battle with our culture with the One True God; His compassion, His power, and His comfort. We are responsible not to act in fear but in His strength. When the world is against us we must remind ourselves that God will take vengeance, it is not our job.

The only direct path for being the victor rather than the victim is through an active faith in Jesus Christ and the Word of God. “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith” (1 John 5:4 ESV).

Recovering from trauma or facing our foes can be a daunting task. We have a choice, we can be faithless victims or faithful victors.