The Victim

 

We have all heard that “we are a product of our environment.” It seems more recently (at least the last ten years) that more people see that as, “I am a victim of my environment.” This change would indicate that there is no escaping an inevitable outcome of our circumstances.

Both of these statements indicate a lack of understanding of the sovereignty of God.

There are many things that happen to us in this life that are harmful or painful or seem to be completely useless in the whole scheme of things. Several wise counselors and authors have taught that, as Christians, we should always ask, “What is God doing in these circumstances?” These are often the ones where we later realize that “Hindsight is 20/20” because it is only afterward that we can see a glimpse of what God was working in and through us.

In His sovereignty God is at work in all of our circumstances. This means that, in His sovereignty, He teaches us as much in our woes as He does in our joys.

Sadly, those who were sorely hurt by people or painful events may never see what God is doing for them now. They seem to be frozen in the pain. Moving forward is frightening. Traumatic experiences can block hurt people from trying new responses and growing in their faith, work, and life.

Often, emotionally wounded people seem to believe that if the Lord God has allowed pain or serious illness in their lives that He has abandoned them. It is a matter of faith to know that this does not happen! He promises never to leave us nor forsake us. Healing will progress as this truth is embraced and His word obeyed.

This thinking should also take us back to the cross of Jesus Christ. The last three days of Jesus’ life were painful beyond anything we must endure. He was falsely accused, beaten, flogged, humiliated in mocking, nailed to a cross and mocked some more and finally, suffered death for sin which He had not committed. That was our sin on Him.

It is not my intention to minimize the pain or suffering of anyone. What is important for us to understand is that the Lord is with us and will bring us through that pain if we will lean on Him and His Word and not remain stuck in the time of our greatest hurt. Staying in that place of the pain and suffering immobilizes people. Looking to the Word of God and obeying it will lead us into a place of hope. (The life of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 is a great example of how God will nourish and lift us up when we have been hurt by others).

Looking forward and trusting in God to take vengeance for any wrongdoing is the first pathway to peace and productivity. If anger remains our driving force we will be stuck as victims, not working to build the kingdom of God as we are instructed to do.

In the scripture (John 5:6) Jesus asks a man who had been sick for thirty eight years, “Do you want to be made well?” According to the commentaries, many in that day would use their disability as an excuse for idleness, to beg for a living.

This man was not physically able to get himself to the place of healing. He had watched others move ahead of him to get in the healing pool. Today, many of the wounds holding Christians back are emotional. They do not hinder us from physically seeking the place we need to be for the greatest help.  We must make sure that they do not hinder us spiritually, either.

In his commentary on John 5:6 Matthew Henry says this, “Christ delights to help the helpless, and hath mercy on whom he will have mercy. Perhaps his companions in tribulation insulted over him, because he had often been disappointed of a cure; therefore Christ took him for his patient: it is his honour to side with the weakest, and bear up those whom he sees run down.”

Are you or do you know a professing Christian who lives with the “victim mentality”? It’s time to ask, “Do you want to be well?” Regardless of how many times we might feel passed over for a cure, “Christ delights to help the helpless.” In applying His Word to every area of life we can see that He is the escape from the consequences of our environments.