#2 – Handling Life's Hurts

RECOVERING FROM RESENTMENT

‘Then Job replied: “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be
Placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder My words have been impetuous.”’ Job 6:1-3 (NIV)

‘He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.’
Job 9:18 (KJV)

I. THE CAUSES OF RESENTMENT

What People Say About Us…

‘My friends all laugh at me when I call on God and expect Him to answer me; they laugh at me even though I am right and innocent! Those that are comfortable don’t care others have trouble; they think it is right those (people have troubles.’ Job 12:4-5 (Message)

Paraphrase: ‘You have no troubles, and yet you make fun of me; you hit a man who is about to fall!’

‘Careless words stab like a sword.’ Proverbs 12:18 (New Century Version)

‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.’ Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

What People Think About Us…

‘Then Job replied: “How long will you torment me and crush me with words? Ten times now you have reproached me; shamelessly you attack me. If it is true that I have gone astray, my error remains my concern alone. If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use humiliation against me…’ Job 19:1-5 (NIV)

V.3; ‘shamelessly you attack me.’

V.5; . ‘If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use humiliation against me…’

‘You think you are better than I am, and regard my troubles as proof of my guilt.’

What People Do To Us…

‘All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me.’
Job 19:19 (NIV)

II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF RESENTMENT

Resentment is Unreasonable… Illogical…. Irrational… It Doesn’t Make
Any Sense

‘Resentment kills a fool’ Job 5:2 (NIV)

‘Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.’ Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NIV)

‘For they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses’ lips.’ Moses Psalm 106:33 (NIV)

Resentment Is Unhelpful

‘You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place?’
Job 18:4 (NIV)

Resentment is Unhealthy

‘One man dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease, his body well nourished, his bones rich with marrow. Another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good..’ Job 21:23-25 (NIV)

‘Resentment kills a fool’ Job 5:2 (NIV)

III. THE CURE FOR RESENTMENT

Reveal Your Hurt…

‘Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.’ Job 7:11 (NIV)

‘I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.’ Job 10:1 (NIV)

- Repress It

- Express It

- Confess It

‘Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.’ James 5:16 (Message)

‘Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry – but don’t use your anger as a fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry.’ Ephesians 4:26 (Message)

Release Your Offender

‘After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.’ Job 42:10 (NIV)

‘But I tell you who hear me: love your enemies, do good to those who hate
You, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If
someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone
takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.’
Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)

‘Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of
everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,
for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.’
Romans 12:17-21 (NIV)

Refocus your Life

‘Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.’ Job 11:13-16 (NIV)

3 Steps In the Focusing Process….

Devote your Heart

‘Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him’

‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Reach Out To God

‘if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame’

3) Face The World Again… Firmly and Courageously

‘ will stand firm without fear.’

‘The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first…’
Job 42:12 (NIV)