SHIELDED

Living with three brothers and faced with grade school bullies, I learned some coping mechanisms that didn't quite work. But it was all I knew to do. When the word bullets started flying, we learned to shoot the word missiles back. So when somebody said, "You're an ugly freckle-faced punk," (which they did) my retort may have been, "I know you are but what am I?" Or "I'm rubber but you are glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you." 

Childhood can be hard. And as a parent, you want to step in and rescue or bully back. But that only makes things worse in the long run. 

It happens to leaders, too. Someone close to you will misunderstand your actions. Someone will be jealous. Someone will take shots at you on social media. And you can't defend yourself. What can we do? 

King David, the one who killed Goliath, had a beautiful son named Absalom. Beautiful, thick, midnight-colored hair. Probably buff and built like Chris Hemsworth. History records that he got miffed at his Dad and started sitting at the city gates. Greeting people with his winsome personality, "So the King hasn't done much for you. Sorry. Well, if I was King, things would be a lot different. Here's my card if he can't help you." Nursing a grudge against his Dad, Absalom turned to full-blown insurrection. Word bullets. Zingers he knew would eventually get back to the palace. And this was the point: "I'm hurting, so I'm going to hit Dad where it hurts." 

Now David has brought this on himself, partly because of his disobedience and sin with Bathsheba. But it happened before then, too. Through no fault of his own, that we know of, Saul his mentor, would turn on him and be jealous, would chase him, try to kill him. But few parents name their sons Saul. And millions name their son David.

There is no guarantee that because you do the right thing that someone close to you won’t turn on you, and say something hurtful. What to do?

"You were never there for me." Even though you know the hours, the money, the prayers, that were poured out on their behalf. 

"You only use people for your own benefit."

"You've never loved me." 

Sometimes we're guilty. And we need to repent. But sometimes we have to acknowledge that someone is a bully, or a manipulator, or in Absalom's case, an arrogant person who wants their own way enough to abuse you in the process. 

David gives us a prayerful solution for these seasons. He writes a song on this occasion which has a heading:  

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

This is the occasion. And here is his response. 

O Lord, how many are my foes!
    Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul,
    “There is no salvation for him in God.”
(Psalm 3:1,2)

Yep. Been there. With a grimace toward heaven, a cry from the gut, "Is everyone against me? Do you hear what they're saying, God?" 

Yet David continues, "But You oh Lord are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head." 

So follower of Jesus, you are shielded. Leader, you have a heavenly missile defense system. Not from every unjust word and every untimely attack. But God can keep you from being decimated by the attacks. It may hurt but it doesn't have to take you out. The Lord is your shield. 

Why do people suffer even when doing good?

Bishop Gerald and Rich Schroeder just returned from their trip to see the 90+ orphans that we sponsor. Pastor Thompson, the overseer there, sent us a note after they returned:

"After you left India I have been to some of the flood-affected areas and the condition of the people is so sorrowful. People have lost their homes and family members. The crops were completely damaged and it seems the drought will put the rest in great trouble. At present, the cost of living on every thing has gone higher, the condition of living to many becoming hard. Please continue to pray for all of us . I really appreciate your visit while you were here with us. All our orphan children felt great in your presence and enjoyed having you here with us..." 

Why do people suffer even when doing good? Our study in 1 Peter on Wednesdays makes it very clear that Christians will experience suffering, persecution, trouble, hardship. The Christians that Peter was writing to were suffering persecution for their faith. In a similar way, not all sickness is healed. Not every child of God is delivered from tragedy, persecution and suffering. And Christians still die of natural causes.

The reason for suffering? Here are three:

1. This is a broken world because of sin. The evil prince still has some jurisdiction over this planet because Adam relinquished his rightful place as prince. Because of Adam’s sin, nature itself was corrupted. Death became a reality.  This is the result of the curse. (Romans 8:22; Gen. 2.17, 3:17)
2. We make bad choices. People don’t make healthy choices regarding their bodies, their finances, their marriage, their employment, careers and education. As a result, there are bad outcomes. (Gal. 6:7,8)
3. We don’t pray. We don’t ask for God’s intervention. (James 4:2; Ezek. 22:30)

 There are other reasons of course. But these are three big ones.

Therefore, when we look at the promises of God as in Psalm 91, we must claim these in the light of God’s sovereignty. We ask for healing. We ask for an end to suffering. But if we still suffer then we endure it with joy knowing that God has not abandoned us. If in His divine providence, God thinks it is best for the apostle Paul and the apostle Peter, to lose their lives for the gospel, then we continue to glorify God believing that He is still just and righteous in all His ways.  It is right to ask for “divine protection.” It is right to pray, “Deliver us from evil” and “Don’t put us to the test” (Matt. 6:13 BBE). But does God sometimes STILL allow us to experience suffering and testing? Yes! Does God still allow us to go through temptation? YES!

• Sometimes for our refining (Psalm 66:10)
• Sometimes for a witness to others that as we suffer we still honor God (1 Peter 3:14-18)
• Sometimes for reasons known only to God (2 Cor. 12:9)

 The bottom line? We should still pray. We should still give thanks in all things. We should still believe that God is good, even though life is hard...sometimes.