Pray For Your Adversaries To Be Humbled

One day, an airport baggage service agent at the concierge desk had an eventful morning dealing with stressed-out travelers. It seemed that every passenger he encountered was either rude or obnoxious. Finally, a kind and patient person stepped up to the counter. The man asked the baggage service agent, "How do you remain so calm while these people are disrespecting you?" The baggage service agent smiled and replied, "Well, that's easy. You see that last person who just walked through? She's going to Chicago, but her bags are going to New Orleans!"

Often, when people disrespect us, we may feel like sending them—and their bags—to the moon! However, that is not what's best for us. As much as we may want to react impulsively, we need to resist those urges that could compromise our character. The better response is to pray for God to humble our adversaries, especially when they cross a line of reverence. I believe Nehemiah addressed those unjustly opposing his work to rebuild the walls in Jerusalem in the same prayerful manner:

Nehemiah 4:1;4-5/NLT, "Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews… 4 Then I prayed, ‘Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders.’ ”

We are told that Sanballat, along with Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, tried everything in their power to stop Nehemiah. Whether driven by a desire for political power or by their hatred for the Jews, these individuals were determined to discourage and destroy Nehemiah's work. However, despite their self-serving motivations, Nehemiah and his dedicated team were not only successful in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, but they accomplished this astonishing feat in just 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15).

The next time you face any opposition, trust God and leave the matter of justice to Him. Romans 12:19-21 says, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ 20 To the contrary, “'f your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."