THERE ARE NO instructions in God’s Word that put us in a place where we will not be mistreated by others. In fact, being mistreated should never catch Christians by surprise.
Now, I want to be clear. I am not talking about physical or sexual abuse, which is never acceptable and should not be tolerated. I’m talking about being underappreciated or not respected. I’m talking about people treating you wrongly because of their selfishness. The Word gives us much instruction and wisdom on how to function when being mistreated like this.
No matter what you’re going through, never stop being you.
Deliverer of God’s People
Moses was misunderstood and mistreated. He was called to be the Israelites’ deliverer, but he endeavored to expedite that role by making some decisions on his own. He killed an Egyptian and then took off running to the desert.
Moses was sitting near a well when the daughters of Jethro, the priest of Midian, came to water their father’s flock. Shepherds came and pushed them aside. But Moses stood up and delivered them from the shepherds.
Since Moses had fled Egypt, you would think he would be depressed and worried about his future. You would think he would be in no shape to help someone else. But Moses was a deliverer in Egypt, and he remained a deliverer, on a much smaller scale, to Jethro’s daughters.
When the young women told their father what happened, he told them to get Moses and bring him home. Eventually, Jethro gave him his daughter Zipporah in marriage. And in time, Jethro put him in charge of his entire flock. (See Exodus 2:11–3:1.)
As I evaluated this story, I realized you don’t give your daughter in marriage or the oversight of your flocks to someone who is depressed. But Moses never stopped being Moses.
Don’t Stop Being You
If you’re not careful, you’ll drop who you are when you are mistreated. But you must always stay you. I believe Moses would not have had the burning bush experience if he had not remained reliable and teachable.
When you are mistreated, you can choose to spend the rest of your life on the back side of the desert, depressed and discouraged. But if you stay that way, you will be in no condition to move to another place. Even if you do move, you won’t be healthy enough to make much of a difference.
No matter what you’re going through, never stop being you. Hold your head up high and stay you.
The Apostle Peter wrote about two types of suffering believers will encounter: “For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God” (1 Peter 2:20 NKJV).
If you’ve crossed a line and been insubordinate or unruly, then own your actions and make it right. But if you suffer for doing what is right, hold your head up high and keep being the same kind, gentle you.
FIRST PETER 2:21–23 (NKJV)
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.
22 Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth;
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.
When Jesus suffered, He never lost control of his mouth. When you suffer, if you’re not careful, you can say things you shouldn’t. In the midst of His suffering, Jesus remained Jesus. As He hung on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34 NKJV). He told John to take care of his mother (John 19:26–27).
Learn how to manage yourself when being mistreated. Stay the course and don’t change who you are. Hold your head up high. You have nothing to be ashamed of or depressed about.
Author
Doug Jones
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