Go to the Word OR be the tail (I’ll explain)...

Life can be hard. One day you lose someone you love, the next day someone you love is being petty, mean-spirited, and small. So what’s a person to do?

Go to the Word.

In Psalm 119, King David writes “Your instructions are my delight, they are my counselors. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies” (vs 24+98). When someone hurts you, you want to hurt them back. It seems unfair that they get away with their pettiness or wrong doing. But what do you do?

Go to the Word.

In Romans 12, Paul tells the believers “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all” (vs 17). He’s not suggesting you become a doormat, he’s just reminding us that God will take care of things. He sees everything; nothing is lost on him. Your job is not to retaliate but instead be principled and noble…let HIM deal with the one who’s wronged you (he’ll do a way better job of dealing with that person anyway!).

So often, when aching and bruised, you have a side to pick or a road to choose. What do you do?

Go to the Word.

In Deuteronomy 28, Moses reminds “If you listen to [the] commands of the Lord your God…and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom” (vs 13).

Good heavens…what a promise!

If, with the Holy Spirit’s counsel I strive toward obedience to his precepts, if I look to the Lord continually and not “lean on my own understanding” of the situation (Proverbs 3:5b), if I put on love (Colossians 3:14) because it “covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8), I GET to be the head and not the tail.

Is it worth being the tail just so you can write a nasty text or leave a cruel voicemail or offer a catty retort? Even if it’s totally deserved, is it worth being the tail? Jeepers. Not for me. The older I get the more I learn to lean on God’s Word for ALL the answers…not just the easy or convenient answers but for ALL the answers to life’s predicaments. And I’m ALWAYS satisfied, always comforted. Why, because I’m promised in 1 Peter 5:7 that if I will “cast all my cares on HIM, he’ll care for me.”

Just throw ‘em all on him friends…let him carry those sorrows and nurse those wounds. He is overwhelmingly able to help you be the head…not the tail.