«The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them» (Proverbs 11:3).
Samuel’s mother, Hannah, was a woman who suffered a lot because of her infertility. If that were not enough, her husband took on another woman, Peninnah, as his wife, in order to have children through her. In addition, Hannah’s rival annoyed her every day and tried to make her life difficult in her own home. Despite the complicated situation at home, her husband did not seem to be interested in her sufferings. Poor Hannah no longer knew what to do, so she went to the temple to pray to the Lord. There she poured out her heart before God with deep fervor. Eli, the high priest, watched while the woman writhed with her eyes closed and moved her lips expressing the despair and anxiety that seized her. The paradox of the story is that the old priest became upset because he thought she was drunk! (See 1 Samuel 1:13.)
Imagine the look on Hannah’s face when the sanctuary leader rebuked her because he thought she was drunk! That would have been enough for her to run out of that place and not go back anymore. However, Hannah explained to the high priest what was going on and she did not get carried away by her emotions.
Has anything similar ever happened to you? Have you been scolded in church because of your fervent way of humbling yourself before God? Sometimes there are believers who, in their desire to maintain the rules of the church, are somewhat hurtful to other people. What can be done in these cases? Follow Hannah’s example: remain faithful to God despite what they tell you out of ignorance or any other reason.
On several occasions I have seen young people emotionally injured because some adult misinterpreted their motives and judged them harshly. It is important not to give in to the dominion of our emotions; in these cases, do not abandon yourself to bitterness. It is also not healthy to consider that all members of the church are like that. The fundamental thing is to remember that God does not have to pay for the recklessness that His servants sometimes commit.
It is very likely that when you want to speak to the Lord from the depths of your heart, people do not understand you, even some children of God. But that must not discourage you from your desire to confess to the heavenly Father the innermost of your being.
Today ask God to help you pray for those who have ever hurt you or have misunderstood your motives and decide to follow the path of integrity.