"Moving On" Dealing with Hurt Feelings

"Moving On" 

Dealing with Hurt Feelings

Over the past few days we have looked at how Saul reacted to a perceived insult, how David reacted to a real-live insult, and who is insulted today (i.e. anyone).
We have talked about why people are insulted.
We explored some normal responses to hurt feelings.
And we explored some Scripture that showed us how we should respond.
We've even shared a couple of examples of hurt feelings along the way.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could now come up with an algorithm of sorts to help us to know how to respond when insults come or feelings are injured? Here's the closest thing we came up with in Sunday School. See what happens if you walk through these Scriptures in light of your situation.

1. I Peter 5:7  "Cast your cares on Him, because He cares for you."  See Psalm 55:22
   (He loves you more than you can fathom -- yes, He died for you.
   And He wants to carry your burden.)
2. I Peter 2:1-3 "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation...."
   (Remove the negative, crave the Word, and grow up.)
3. Exodus 14:14  "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."
   (Romans 8:31  "And if God is for us, who can be against us?!")
4. Philippians 4:6, 8  "Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
   (Spill your heart out to the Father. Don't leave anything out.)
5. II Timothy 1:7  "For God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and soundness of mind."
   (If God doesn't give us fear, then where does it come from? And who defeated Satan at Calvary? So Claim Jesus' victory and praise God for His strength, love, and clear thinking.)
6. Philippians 4:8  "Finally... whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things."
   (Who is Truth? Who is King? Who is Righteous? Who is Pure? Who is lovely and admirable? Concentrate on Him!)
7. II Corinthians 1:3,4  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."
   (Praise the Lord. Give Him the credit for working things out. And help others in the same boat.)

And there you have it -- a prescription for dealing with insults and hurt feelings so that you can move on in peace.

Father, this is all so easily said. Give us the strength to put your Word into action.