1 Peter 3:8–9 - Contemporary English Version
‘To sum it up: be united, care about each other and show each other love. Be kind and humble. Don’t hurt someone back when they hurt you. If someone insults you, don’t insult them in return. Wish them well instead. God has called us to live this way, and he will bless us.’
When words hurt
You read a message that stings. Your fingers hover over the keyboard: this time, you want to send a sharp reply. I understand the urge. An insult hurts, especially when others can read it too. Yet one harsh response can make an argument worse. What might happen if you first asked, “What did you mean by that?”
A letter to people under pressure
Peter wrote to small Christian communities scattered across parts of the Roman Empire. Their faith was sometimes met with misunderstanding. They needed one another. So he urged them to care for and love each other, and not to answer an insult with another insult.
That does not mean you have to put up with hurtful behaviour. You can say, “What you said hurt me.” You can set boundaries and ask for help. But the pain someone caused you does not have to decide how you respond.
I think of two people who, after an argument at church, still sit down together to listen. Or a neighbour who refuses to join in gossip. Such choices do not repair everything at once, but they can make room for an honest conversation.
Final thought
Perhaps what you long for most is someone who will listen to you. You can come to Jesus with what others have done to you and with what you have done wrong yourself. What would you want to tell Him?
A prayer
“Jesus, You know which words have hurt me. Help me speak honestly, protect my boundaries and care for others. Let me come to know Your love. Amen.”