Don’t Take it Personally

Teresa Poucher

Have you ever had an individual in your life for whom you cared deeply? ‘Seems like a stranger can say something ugly to you, and you can forgive and get over it. Yet, when it’s close to home, or someone for whom you care, the sting lingers. If you spend a lot of time with them, you better get over it, or it will eat your lunch and your dinner too!

Many years ago, while in prayer for such a situation, the Lord spoke these words to my heart: “Don’t condemn, push away, or take it personally.” The first two were easy with the Lord’s help. “Don’t take it personally” was much harder. Yet, if we look to the Word of God, we see, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood...” (Ephesians 6:12)

  This person is not making a personal attack.  They are reacting to a hurt they haven’t resolved yet.

  Forgiveness is so wonderful; it heals us when we practice it.  I tend to take things personally.  It’s my fault, I must have messed up.  I feel bad when many things are not even my fault. 

Which brings me to why wouldn’t I take it personally when I read the Word of God? The Word of the Lord is so full of promises. God robed Himself in flesh and was “born in a barn,” so to speak. He was killed by those to whom He gave life. All so we could spend eternity with Him. What wondrous love and compassion. Yes, He died for MYsin. It was my fault; I was guilty. I take that very personally. He never gives up on us, and He never gets ugly with us, but He gently corrects us. I want to take His every desire personally, don’t you?