Dear Reader,
We humans, especially in the church still live by a process we learned in childhood. When we’re hurt or lose a few points, instead of loving one another through the process of understanding and pain we, “take our ball and go home.” It’s one thing to talk about faith and love when life feels easy. It’s another thing entirely when someone hurts or offends you. The sting of betrayal, harsh words, or unfair treatment can settle deep in the heart. That’s when faith isn’t just a comforting idea, it becomes a choice.
When I started working on the current sermon series I’m in, I was reeling over a long discussion I’d had with another pastor who’s in a crisis of faith right now. They are fighting the temptation to just go away, ghost or abandon a hard situation. It was through no fault of their own but there’s a willingness to walk away from people we love instead of fighting not against but FOR that person who hurt us. The Bible doesn’t give us an escape clause when we’ve been wronged. Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 about loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us are some of the hardest to live out. They don’t just challenge our instincts; they go against them entirely. Our natural reaction is to protect ourselves, to withdraw, or even to retaliate. But faith calls us to something higher.
Loving people in the middle of pain doesn’t mean pretending the hurt didn’t happen. It’s not about excusing bad behavior or letting people keep hurting us. It’s about trusting that God sees, knows, and will deal with every injustice. Faith reminds us that God’s love is big enough to hold both our pain and the person who caused it.
When Paul wrote to the Romans, he said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). That’s not passive advice—it’s a powerful way of breaking cycles of bitterness. Choosing love when we’ve been wronged doesn’t make us weak; it shows that our hearts are anchored in something deeper than the moment.
The truth is, faith and love are inseparable. Faith believes God is at work even when we don’t see it. Love acts on that belief, extending grace that we’ve already received ourselves. And sometimes, the greatest testimony of faith is loving someone when every part of you wants to walk away.
It’s not easy. It may not feel fair. But it’s the way of Christ. And when we choose it, we step into a freedom that resentment can never give.
Use the cross as a bridge. It works every time.
James
Rev. James A. Williams
Senior Pastor
Grace Resurrection Methodist Church
We humans, especially in the church still live by a process we learned in childhood. When we’re hurt or lose a few points, instead of loving one another through the process of understanding and pain we, “take our ball and go home.” It’s one thing to talk about faith and love when life feels easy. It’s another thing entirely when someone hurts or offends you. The sting of betrayal, harsh words, or unfair treatment can settle deep in the heart. That’s when faith isn’t just a comforting idea, it becomes a choice.
When I started working on the current sermon series I’m in, I was reeling over a long discussion I’d had with another pastor who’s in a crisis of faith right now. They are fighting the temptation to just go away, ghost or abandon a hard situation. It was through no fault of their own but there’s a willingness to walk away from people we love instead of fighting not against but FOR that person who hurt us. The Bible doesn’t give us an escape clause when we’ve been wronged. Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 about loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us are some of the hardest to live out. They don’t just challenge our instincts; they go against them entirely. Our natural reaction is to protect ourselves, to withdraw, or even to retaliate. But faith calls us to something higher.
Loving people in the middle of pain doesn’t mean pretending the hurt didn’t happen. It’s not about excusing bad behavior or letting people keep hurting us. It’s about trusting that God sees, knows, and will deal with every injustice. Faith reminds us that God’s love is big enough to hold both our pain and the person who caused it.
When Paul wrote to the Romans, he said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). That’s not passive advice—it’s a powerful way of breaking cycles of bitterness. Choosing love when we’ve been wronged doesn’t make us weak; it shows that our hearts are anchored in something deeper than the moment.
The truth is, faith and love are inseparable. Faith believes God is at work even when we don’t see it. Love acts on that belief, extending grace that we’ve already received ourselves. And sometimes, the greatest testimony of faith is loving someone when every part of you wants to walk away.
It’s not easy. It may not feel fair. But it’s the way of Christ. And when we choose it, we step into a freedom that resentment can never give.
Use the cross as a bridge. It works every time.
James
Rev. James A. Williams
Senior Pastor
Grace Resurrection Methodist Church
Posted in Rev. James Williams Weekly Blog
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