Pray for those who hurt you

DAILY READING

Job 42:10-17 

FIELD NOTES

In this last part of the Book, we see Job restored and being made whole after praying for his friends. Job’s friends had made the error of assuming that Job’s suffering was caused by a great sin he had committed. Even though the counsel of his friends had caused him anguish, Job was still able to pray for his friends. Note that even though Job was praying for them, he ended up being the beneficiary from his prayer. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was a Lutheran pastor and theologian, spoke of forgiving and praying for those that have hurt us even while he was imprisoned in Nazi Germany during World War II. He expressed this by stating: “The will of God, to which the law gives expression, is that men should defeat their enemies by loving them. But they all stood beneath the cross, enemies and believers, doubters and cowards, revilers and devoted followers. His prayer, in that hour, and his forgiveness, was meant for them all, and for all their sins.” 

It is sometimes difficult to forgive those who have hurt us. When your trust has been betrayed, when you feel abandoned and hurt by those you love, turn to God and pray. Pray for the one(s) who have hurt you. Jesus reminds us of this important principle in Matthew 5:43-48 when he explains, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” 

Praying for those that harm us can seem impossible. Think about how challenging it was for Job to forgive his friends after all he had been through. If we find it difficult to do this, pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. By extending grace, through prayer, to the ones who have wronged us, the grip of bitterness and resentment are lifted and we are put on the path of restoration as we see with Job. 

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• How can you incorporate those who have hurt you into your prayer? What keeps you from praying for your enemies? What can help you to pray for those that hurt you? 

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Have you every prayed for someone that spoke poorly of you? How did it feel? Are there people in your life that you feel have hurt you and need to be prayed for? 
• How can you pray for those who have hurt you? Follow the actions of Job and pray for those who have wronged you. 

PRAYER GUIDE

Dear Lord, you know how hard it is for us to pray for those that have hurt us. You know because you did it. You blessed those who cursed you, even as you suffered in agony on the cross. You asked God to forgive those who were torturing you to death on the cross. Help us to imitate you and pray for those who do us harm.