Lay the gavel down: How to respond when people curse you
It’s so easy to want to defend ourselves or fight back when someone is unkind to us. It’s even harder when we are afflicted, betrayed, neglected, or cursed by someone. Especially if the offense comes from someone who is older and in a position to support and encourage and protect us.
But one thing I know is this: Mercy triumphs over judgement.
Mercy triumphs over judgement.
When we take the role of judge in any situation, we are putting the gavel in our own hands. (And trust me. You don’t want to do that.)
Because with the measure with which we judge others, that’s how we’ll be judged.
The flip side is the blessing. With the measure with which we forgive others, we’ll be forgiven. (“Forgive us our sins as we forgive others.”)
When we show mercy, mercy will be shown to us.
This isn’t something most people understand or step into overnight. It often takes a lot of insults and being shoved down to develop the spiritual muscles of forgiveness and mercy. Even those with the gift of mercy must learn how to operate and exercise that gift.
What is a curse?
God told Abraham:
“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:3, NIV.
The Amplified version of the Bible helps us understand what it means when others “curse” us. It means anyone who “despises you, dishonors you, or treats you with contempt. Click here for the whole breakdown.
And I will bless (do good for, benefit) those who bless you,
And I will curse [that is, subject to My wrath and judgment] the one who curses (despises, dishonors, has contempt for) you.Genesis 12:3, AMP
But some people misread this and decide that it’s their job to curse those who curse them. Nope. God said he’d deal with those who have it out for you in His own way. We need to just stay in our lane, which is blessing and grace and mercy.
How not to deal with a curse
I’ve heard some Christians recently praying in such a way that returns curses for curses. They send back curses to where they came from, several fold increase.
I’ll be blunt. Receive this as a strong warning because the Most High loves you… Do not do it. Don’t pray in this way. It’s partnering with witchcraft. You do not want to open those doors.
If you have already found yourself praying in this way, confess that to the Lord this very moment. Ask forgiveness. Renounce cursing for cursing and wash over yourself and your family in the blood of Jesus. And ask God to shut any doors to darkness that you have opened.
We must lay the gavel down.
Mercy over judgement
God is my judge. I am not. God is their judge. I am not. I will not participate in judgement lest I be judged.
When we choose mercy, it’s only harder in that we must die to our flesh and our desire for self-justification or self-righteousness. But if you are justified by faith through grace of Jesus Christ, you have no need to justify yourself. You already died to self-justification.
If your righteousness is a gift given to you, not by your good deeds, but by your faith in Christ, then you have no need for self-righteousness. You died to that the day you accepted Jesus into your heart.
So lay the gavel down.
(Do not slam it.) Lay it down. Surrender it. You want no part in sitting in the judge’s seat.
Run to and relax in the mercy seat instead.
Jesus is very clear that we do not return cursing for cursing. We don’t return betrayal for betrayal. We don’t slander when slandered. Forgiveness will set free from all that nasty bitterness. Mercy will set free from being so easily offended. These will become oppressive chains over your life, pinning you down and keeping you ensnared to those who have hurt or offended you. It will not bring any form of benefit.
Follow Jesus and his paths of mercy instead. Forgive and bless. He’s very clear on the matter:
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. … 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. … 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:27, 31, 36, NIV
Love conquers all
Blessing those who curse you is so powerful. It sends love into the enemy’s camp. And that’s one thing the enemy hates most of all. And why? Because Love conquers all.
The greatest defense we have is faith in Jesus, and the greatest offense that we have is Love. Love conquers all. Not self-defense. Not self-justification. Not bitterness and rage. It’s love and mercy. So do not repay evil for evil.
Show mercy.
Forgive.
Love.
And see what changes when you do your part and let God do His.
I recently was faced with a situation at my job where I was challenged to show mercy and forgiveness despite my anger and frustration. It has not been easy, and I’m not quite there yet, but I know what the Word says, so I am working on it. This also opened my eyes to me being on the giving side of being critical of a family member, not in a mean way directly to them but by my attitude of self-righteousness toward them, and I know it needs to stop. Thank you for sharing.
Oh Jill, bless you richly with God’s mercy! Your humility is refreshing, and I ask God right now to move in that situation at your job and flood your workplace with peace and mercy.