2204) Isn’t it interesting that when a friend or family member passively aggresses toward us, or talks behind our backs, the hurt is powerful.  

Why? Psalm 55:12-14 gives us the answer many of us know but perhaps don’t consider often enough.  

The verses tell us friends can do great damage to us. There’s sarcasm (which I am often guilty of) and passive aggressive comments, and when we hear them, a little arrow of pain enters our hearts.  

How do we deal with this? Dishing out heated words toward them makes us guilty of the same thing.  

Holding these comments in our hearts, thinking we’re giving validity to our hurt only hurts us more.  

The harder choice (and most effective one) is found in Matthew 5:44. We are told to pray for these people (even enemies) who hurt us.  

It’s the first step in laying down our hurt.