WHEN SOMEONE LETS YOU DOWN

July 8, 2009

WHEN SOMEONE LETS YOU DOWN

SIP2001150_Veer What do you do when someone lets you down?

I spoke to someone recently who was pretty disappointed with a few people. People he had trusted and hoped would walk alongside and help didn’t follow through. People from work, from his neighborhood and yes, even people from church.

When Jesus walked through this planet, he had his share of let downs. In fact, his closest friends whom he spent lots of time with turned their backs on him.

As I said a prayer for him yesterday morning, a couple of things came to mind.

1. BELIEVE THE BEST IN THAT PERSON.

Jesus had no plan B. If the disciples wouldn’t do it, no one else would. He believed in them in spite of their misgivings.

That’s what’s great about Jesus. He didn’t see them for who they were but for who they would become.

If Jesus gave up on me, I would’ve been gone a long time ago.

2. TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THAT PERSON.

People are people and they make mistakes. We all do. That’s life. But if the Holy Spirit is alive in that person, we can trust Him to do His work and remind, nudge, convict or knock on that person’s heart.

Jesus gave people time to bounce back. He allowed them to make the mistake and then with open arms receive them back. Look at Peter’s life. He outright denied Him. But he came back.

We all are a work in progress. He’s not done with us yet. Not with them and certainly not with us.

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. (Phil. 1:6, The Message Bible)

Misc

Posted by:

Paolo Punzalan

Husband, father, pastor and most importantly, Christ follower.

4 responses to “WHEN SOMEONE LETS YOU DOWN”

Rivs Valencia

July 8, 2009 at 11:21 pm

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ, did not please himself but as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” Rom 15:1-3 It also boils down to our hearts on how we treat others coz God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. It’s better to ask for God to change our attitudes toward that person who disappointed us.

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nancy reyes lumen

July 9, 2009 at 10:51 pm

Hello Rivs, I admire your way of thinking, considering you are atill a young upbeat person…and this worldly world, it is not easy to be Christ like. nancy

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Josie Buenaventura

July 11, 2009 at 8:27 pm

When someone lets us down, our first reaction should be to say a prayer for the person. The key phrase from Riv that hits the mark is “change our attitudes”. We cannot change people, but we can change our reaction towards them especially those who offends us or hurts us. Change is transformation, the process in being Christ-like in words and deeds. It is a part of working out our salvation. With change comes discipline and with discipline comes rigid training -like that of an athlete working out to compete in a race. In all these, we need the Holy Spirit’s power, for without Him we cannot do it on our own. My prayer for us all in this connection: Eph. 3:14-21

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Paolo Punzalan

July 11, 2009 at 10:06 pm

@josie: great thoughts – we cannot change people but we can change our reaction towards them. love the insight!

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