Turning the Other Cheek Hurts

Turning the other cheek hurts my pride. I’m not talking about physical pain or hurt. Mostly, it’s trying to swallow my pride and resist speaking up, trying to avoid voicing my own opinion. I am trying to be selective about when to speak up and when to turn the other cheek and just keep quiet.

Jesus didn’t speak up against those who slandered him or argued with him, but then I’m not Jesus. I am infinitely weaker and all too human. Still, I need to try. There are several reasons for this.

One reason is that in some cases, it is just plain non-productive. There are some folks who just do not care about my opinion. Some people don’t want to hear it and could care less what it is. So, pushing myself and my opinion, right or wrong, on these people, just wastes my time.

Another reason is that in many cases, it causes me too much stress and no results. Some folks just like to argue and do not care about what I think. Others have their minds already made up. Still others will never change their opinion at all. So, to try to give advice or my view to these folks just ends up stressing me out. Why should I cause more tension for myself when it doesn’t accomplish anything?

What I need is a little cue-card that tells me when it’s useful to speak up, and when it is not. I don’t have any cue-cards. All I have is God’s help, and I admit I don’t ask for it soon enough.

Heavenly Father, your own son kept quiet while he was doing your will; help me to know when to do the same.