It is hard to pray for people doing wicked things. It is hard to show grace to people that seem to lack it. It is difficult to forgive those in which do seemingly unforgivable acts. It is hard to excuse bad behavior and not react. Mostly, it is hard to love those in which act unlovingly. There have been times where I have been challenged to show love as God does. I will admit, it is hard to place love in place of anger. Sometimes I don’t know how I’m going to. Though I have found if I go to God and talk to Him honestly about how I feel, He helps me work through it. He helps work on my heart, so I can pray and He can give me His peace. So, He can work on my heart for forgiveness. I then am reminded it is my job to love and that He is just. It is Him who can change hearts and Him who holds us all accountable for our actions.  People will at times test us in our abilities to love them, when it is hard. In those times may we ask God to help us love, even through the clouds of anger, hurt, and resentment. As He works on our hearts, may we pray that He also works on theirs. Friend, if we remain like Him and how He loves, it is there where we can find peace and see hope for those who seem hopeless. For loving like God, even when it is hard, is always better than adding more hate to an already hateful world. 

Erin Fitts-Brower 

Matthew 5:43-48 NIV

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ‘But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.