Author: The Kedge Anchor

Choose to show kindness and love in these troubled times

The Kedge Anchor is back. Had to take a little break. Lent came up and decided to take a social media fast. Then Lent came and went and life happened. But we’re back and here’s this week’s post. I find it to be a challenge for me, how about you?

Navigating troubled times. What does navigating through these turbulent times look like for you? We read a post that we may find offensive or triggers some negative emotion. Someone says something you strongly disagree with and feel threatened. The uncertainty of when all these restrictions and mandates will be lifted and gone. What does God’s Word tell us to do? Trusting God is one, reading His word is another, but when we feel attacked by a social media post or by something someone says, what should we do? Do we lash out, name call? I know at times we want to. But that’s not solving any issues. Don’t we want to stop the hate and anger? We have choices. We can choose to say nothing. Because how many times have you heard, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything”? Psalm 141:3 – “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (NIV)

There are times that we need to speak up and we should but we need to make sure we are speaking out of truth and grace, that we are not cutting others down. That requires wisdom which comes by reading God’s Word and asking for wisdom. Colossians 4:6 – “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (NIV)

Be kind to others, even if they disagree with you or make you angry. It’s ok to be angry, just don’t hurt anyone else in your anger. Being kind to our enemies! Whaaaaat?! Yah, how would you react if you angered someone but they turned around and were kind to you? Would you be repentitive? Sorry? You may be a little taken back. But we break the cycle of anger and hate by forgiving and showing kindness. Sounds too simple, huh? Well, try it; it works! I believe we will make a bigger statement by doing the opposite of what society expects we would do. What if we extended grace instead of trashing a place or someone? What if our response was, “Father, forgive them they no not what they do?” Luke 23:34

Many times someone is just looking to make others angry and get a reaction out of them. Don’t fall for it as tempting as it may be. Now sometimes a personal attack we need to proceed with caution and confront and set boundaries, but that’s another post.

Trust me there will be a battle within you. Your heart and your head will not agree. Your heart may be saying forgive and love and your head is ready to tear down and cause some destruction. But you can choose. You can choose how you will react, whether or not your head or heart will win. But once you choose to forgive and love, your head will catch up.

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Romans 12:20 (NIV)

And most of all, the most effective thing I believe we can do is pray. Let’s face it, you will at some point from here on out be angered by something, a post, a story on the news, a billboard, name it. Resolve now how you will respond. Imagine yourself, being angered and seeing that anger placed in a box and sent down a river and choosing to forgive. Forgiving, being gracious and showing kindness is just one way we can break the cycle of hate and anger and navigate these troubled times.