How can I cope when others fail or hurt me?
Ecclesiastes 8:9I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other.
Isaiah 2:22Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they?
Realize that everyone is human. Even those closest to you are not perfect and will let you down. We all have the capacity to hurt one another. Instead of being surprised when it happens, be understanding and ready to forgive.
Matthew 18:21-22Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
1 Corinthians 13:5[Love] does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
Colossians 3:13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Be less sensitive to other’s faults and wrongs toward you. Don’t be so quick to assume someone was trying to hurt you; instead, be quick to forgive. They may not even know how their actions affected you. Forgiveness gets rid of bitterness and opens the door to restoring relationships.
Proverbs 20:22Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.
1 Peter 3:9Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
Wait for the Lord to take care of matters his way. Respond with a blessing rather than retaliation. Evil is best overcome with good and justice, not with more evil.
Psalm 7:10God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right.
Psalm 25:21May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.
2 Timothy 2:24A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.
If your heart is right with God, if you value and live by his principles, you will be much better equipped to cope when others mistreat you and prepared to counteract them with good.
2 Samuel 22:31“God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.”
Psalm 9:10Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.
2 Corinthians 4:9We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
God is the only one who is perfect and whose promises are always true. Even in the worst of times, he will never abandon you, hurt you, or fail to keep his promises. If you want a friend who will never fail you, try the One who will always be with you.
Matthew 6:14-15“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Luke 17:3-4“So watch yourselves! If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”
Luke 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Jesus is the perfect example of forgiveness, so his words are the perfect teaching about forgiveness. When you forgive, it doesn’t always mean you have to restore the relationship—sometimes, you forgive for your own sake. When you refuse to forgive someone, it becomes a bitterness within you and hinders you with emotional baggage.
Psalm 10:14You see the trouble and grief they cause. You take note of it and punish them. The helpless put their trust in you. You defend the orphans.
Psalm 17:9Protect me from wicked people who attack me, from murderous enemies who surround me.
Psalm 31:13-16I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life. But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me.
Psalm 142:1-3I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn.
There are evil people in the world who think nothing of lying, cheating, stealing, dealing falsely, or any of a number of other evils. They seem to have no conscience and you can’t begin to understand how they do what they do. In those times, go to God for help. No one can compare with him. He knows what you’re going through, and he will be with you all the way.
