Even if you suffer for doing what God approves, you are blessed. Don’t be afraid of those who want to harm you. Don’t get upset. But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord.
1 Peter 3:14–15
Y ou probably have mean people in your life, people who hate you and want your destruction. Does that surprise you? Do you believe everyone should adore you? Why? Did you know that the world hated Christ too? It shouldn’t shock you when people are mean or spiteful toward you, especially when it’s for doing the right thing. It should give you faith in God’s Word, because he promised you would have trouble (see John 16:33).
Don’t be afraid of those who want to harm you, and don’t get upset. Their sin is their sin, and you can’t make it yours. But what you can do is pray for them and love them. Obey God’s commands, especially with those who hate you, and you will prove yourself faithful. What good is obedience in the easy parts of life? That proves nothing. But obedience in loving your enemies, in doing good to those who hate you, and in not fearing what others fear proves your faith and delivers you from all their evil.
There will always be mean people, but the God Girl can’t allow their mean to become her mean. Rather, she has to act as Christ acted and refuse to retaliate or hit back. Don’t get upset. Trust God and turn away from their sin and disobedience by refusing to join in with them. Obedience to God’s Word demands love, and you must fearlessly offer it to others in the name of him who first offered it to save you. Your freedom and your faith are in your hands and no one else’s. Suffer for doing good (see 1 Peter 3:17). Prove God’s Word is trustworthy by doing what it says, and your faith will get stronger than you ever imagined.