Why We Must Never Stop Praying For Those Who’ve Hurt Us

Like a machine gun of bullets shooting through my chest, their words threw me back, helped me feel a piece of death…killed a little part of the trust I had placed in them.

She was someone I deeply trusted. Yet, in one of my darkest days, daggers were heard from her annihilating my character, throwing me to the trenches as if I was to blame in an innocent situation.

We have all been scolded by the burning water of other people’s words or actions.

There are none of us, if we have lived long enough, who have been Houdini, escaping the onslaught of a neighbor, family member or friend.

Wounds can come far and close. But it’s the most intimate relationships that strike us deepest.

Down for the count, we can feel like there is no manager on our side, no ring doctor, no cheering crowd to help us emotionally rise after being pulmetted by those who’ve offended us.

I read this morning, about another worn down by the lower character of his friends. They were once with him in his wealth, but then abandoned him in his pain. Ever had that happen?

Job was stripped from wife and children, possessions and cattle, assets and servants. He lost everything, even his trusted health.

And I wonder sometimes why the mountain-top dwellers have flocks of followers, fanfare and praise. Yet “friends” can abandon us when life begins heading southward?

Who besides God still stands with us when we sit barren and empty-handed?

Unlike some, Job’s stripping didn’t come as a result of his wrong choices. Job was left standing with absolutely nothing because God trusted the unfailing goodness of a man who was righteous.

Yet, why is it our theology can get twisted? Why is it if we do good we just assume we will always receive good? Have we forgotten it’s a fallen world we live in?

Job’s friends and even his wife assaulted him with accusations when he was down. Yet, Job stood faithful when life as he knew it, began to slip away.

Have you ever lost everything? Have you struggled with health or finances? Unjust attacks? Crazy accusations from those who one once stood next to you?

Maybe you know what it’s like to walk through a battlefield, like Job did?

Have things in your life been blowing up all around you? Have people betrayed you, weapons been aimed straight at you, or bullets accosted you in a thousand different ways?

Job’s three “friends”, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were told by God to take a sacrifice, go to Job and offer up for themselves a burnt offering.

“And my servant shall pray for you. For I will accept Him,” God told Job’s betraying friends.(Job 42:8)

In the individualized west, here where I live….I have to admit…

A lot of times we think we can solve every problem of our life by ourself. We order another self-help book, listen to another podcast, or find the latest essential oil assuming our world will then just fall into allignment.

But God didn’t say to Job’s friends, just repent. He said, go and have Job pray for you.

Now imagine if you were Job…

You have been hurt and betrayed by the people you trusted most. Scar tissue-like-wounds still wrapped around your soul. Aching memories of abandonment might even seep through your mind…

And yet, God asked Job to pray for those who hurt him.

When was the last time you prayed for those who offended you?

And I wonder if the enemy uses offense to bring division because he knows when we are offended it’s almost impossible to pray for our enemies.

Offense creates trenches and division between individuals or groups of people. Forgiveness creates bridges that heal, restore and bring redemption.

I woke this morning to snow covering the earth. Our field was dirty, the land was muddied. But the snow didn’t care. It fell free and forgiving, white and life-giving.

And I wonder if when we forgive, it is like the fresh fallen snow. The pain may still be there, but when white is offered, life and healing can begin.

In Job 42:10 the Lord did something so incredible. Scripture says, “The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

I don’t know about you, but I have heard about Job over and over again. Yet, no one ever told me…

Job’s prayers for his unfaithful friends were the switch that released abundance, double blessing back to Job.

For Job to pray, he had to have a heart that forgave. For his friends to receive, they had to repent, bow their heads and come to the one they had betrayed.

Job’s prayer for his friends was a catalyst for his own redemption.

God shows us the power of prayer and forgiveness all throughout Scripture:

• The Lord’s prayer reminds us, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” (Luke 11:4)
• Jesus prayed on the cross, “Forgive them for they know not what they do”. (Luke 23:34)
• Scripture says, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matt 5:23-24)
• Stephen petitioned God while being stoned, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”. FORGIVENESS (Acts 7:60)

But, why don’t those who offend just pray for themselves?

^” Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].” (James 5:16 Amp.)

An unforgiving spirit will always be a hinderance to answered prayer. But what might change if we humble ourselves, forgive and pray for one another?