Biblical Answer

A Biblical Perspective on Loving Someone Who Hurt You

When someone has hurt us, it can be challenging to love them in return. However, as Christians, we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). This doesn't mean we have to condone their behavior or excuse their actions, but rather that we choose to respond with love and kindness. According to the Bible, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28). This is not easy, but it is a command from God.

Understanding the Root of the Problem

Before we can love someone who has hurt us, we need to understand the root of the problem. Often, the person who hurt us is struggling with their own issues and pain. They may be acting out of fear, anger, or hurt. As we read in the provided text, "The fact that you have been hurt by his words and actions might not be the most important issue at this moment." This means that we need to separate our own hurt and anger from the situation and focus on loving the person, not their behavior. This doesn't mean we have to tolerate abusive behavior, but rather that we respond with love and compassion, even in the face of hurtful actions.

Choosing to Love Despite the Hurt

Choosing to love someone who hurt us is not about feeling a certain way, but about making a decision to love them despite our feelings. As the Bible says, "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). We can choose to love others because God first loved us, and because He commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). This doesn't mean we have to ignore our hurt or feelings of anger, but rather that we choose to respond with love and kindness, even in the midst of pain. As we pray and ask God to help us love the person who hurt us, we can trust that He will give us the strength and wisdom to respond with love and compassion. "Give me a renewed sense of love for him and words to heal this situation," we can pray, trusting that God will answer our prayer and give us the love and wisdom we need to respond in a loving way.