By Kris Judd, Order of Evangelists secretary

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children because he was the son of his old age, and he made him an ornamented robe. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him…
They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them they conspired to kill him…So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the ornamented robe that he wore, and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

I am a born people pleaser, though I’m working to change that. As such, one of my biggest fears has been the anger and rejection of other people in my life. At certain times, even the way strangers treated me unkindly wounded me. But when people I considered friends displayed contempt, it hurt deeply.

Such a friend worshiped with me years ago. We spent hours every week working in ministry, and in my presence, she acted as though we were as close as sisters. I did not realize it at the time but out of jealousy and her own woundedness, she mocked and discounted me behind my back.

Over time, I began to realize what was happening and was hurt and angry. Why would she speak negatively about me when we were supposedly so close? How could I trust her again, especially after sharing so much of my story with her?

One Sunday after a particularly difficult encounter with her, I found myself pouring out my broken heart in prayer. “God, I know I need to forgive her, but I can’t do it on my own. Please help me forgive her!” And as if a switch had been turned off, my feelings changed. I no longer felt anger or hurt. In place of the wound was simple space, detached from emotions. I felt freed.

The next day, this woman called me in tears. Something had happened in her family that broke her, and I was the only person who would be there for her, because she had burned bridges with most others she knew. In that moment and the weeks to come, I was able to be there with her, and for her. I could authentically offer prayer and presence without any ill feelings toward her because forgiveness had changed my heart.

Prayer Phrase

“Bear one another’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:2).

Spiritual Hunger

Jesus discerned hungers of body and spirit, and he fed them through a physical, verbal, spiritual ministry of presence. In a time of listening prayer, ask God to help you discern physical or spiritual hungers of people in your congregation, community, and global family. Invite the Spirit to move you to one hospitable act that “feeds” someone’s hunger today.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.