The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.
The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. ~ Isaiah 50:4-9
As in other places in scripture, there is no promise to those who love God that they will have a trouble free life.
There is no promise that everyone will like us and that we won't have, for lack of a better term, "enemies." It's just true that there are going to be people who dislike us no matter what we do.
But there is promise that we won't be alone. That God stands with us in the midst of chaos, suffering, and feelings of helplessness.
That is certainly the biggest part of the battle, knowing who God is in the midst of our trials.
But we find out from the writer of Isaiah, the other part of the battle is knowing who we are.
Knowing not just where we stand with God, but who we are in relation to the people around us.
Knowing who we truly are in the thing that can't be taken from us no matter who would speak against us. I'm sure you've been there. Words really can hurt.
But knowing who we are, having that insight into our true selves means that we live in the truth that we are God's and no one can take that from us.
Who are you, God? And who am I? Amen (a prayer of St. Francis)
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