The Blessing of an Enemy

Enemies have done me great favors.

Of course it’s only now I traveled down the river of life I can say that—at the time of the attacks it felt like my enemies took meat cleavers after my heart—but indeed, my enemies have done for me what my friends could not do.

Enemies are a big reason many of us find ourselves isolated in the first place. When our inner selves have been attacked, we see two choices before us: attacking back or retreating into a hard, protective (we think) shell. The fact is, however, there is a third choice. We can allow God to defend us and we don’t have to go into isolation, but at the time, I didn’t see this as an option. I retreated even farther into my tortoise-like shell and that decision almost killed me as depression took a firm grip on me.

Attacking back in one of my cases wasn’t feasible because I didn’t think I could afford a lawyer to sue the person who launched a character assassination against me. I sought the advice of a Christian counselor only to find he too had an issue with my enemy for his own reasons. So I prayed and got a very clear answer: God would vindicate me; I was not to sue or retaliate in any way. My heart hurt, no that’s an understatement. My heart bled. I prayed for vengeance. I prayed for my enemy to be blessed through clenched teeth. I cried and cried some more in my self-imposed, isolated prison.

I thought about David, the guy who slew the giant Goliath in the Bible. Had it not been for his showdown with Goliath, he would not have been promoted from harp player and lunch deliverer to the hero of Israel. I wondered if my own enemies were setting me up for promotion. David also had patience with King Saul, the man who tried to kill David on multiple occasions. Again, David was proving he had the self control that was needed to be king over Israel, which of course he ultimately was. I wondered if I had the opportunity to kill my enemy with no fear of prosecution if I’d do it. I’m glad the opportunity never presented itself.

One blessing enemies have brought my way is they helped me die to people pleasing. I’ve realized how fickle people can be, how they can build a person up one day and tear that same person to shreds later. Seeking to please God instead of people is a very good byproduct. If I please people at the same time I’m pleasing God, well and good. If not, oh well.

Enemies have sometimes showed me the kinks in my armor. Their attacks may be 95 percent unjustified, but what about the other 5 percent? That 5 percent is something I need to work on, something my friends may never mention.

The Bible says we do not battle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, power and rulers in high places. So my enemies taught me to differentiate between flesh and spirit. As I prayed blessing on a woman every day who had launched a serious attack against me, I began to see her as God sees her. I realize now she must have had some serious heart issues to attack people the way she attacked me. Instead of a grown woman, I saw when I prayed for her a young child who hadn’t been treated right.

Recently I talked to a man who had once been married. His first wife ran off with one of his friends and became pregnant. The man had tried to reconcile with his wife, but she would have nothing to do with it and they divorced. The man says that woman did him a great favor by getting out of his life. He is now married to a beautiful woman. Not only did the unfaithful wife leave, but so did her irksome family and friends.

Enemies also have a way of showing us who are friends are. I had so many people come to my defense when that woman attacked me. Even another man who attacked me in the past came to my defense.

Finally, enemies have a way of sending us to Jesus’ feet. Blessed are those who mourn, the Bible says, for we shall be comforted. I think we are blessed during mourning because God comes so near and comforts us. One time He comforted me by these words from the Bible where it was talking about Jesus, but as Jesus’ bride I felt I could claim it too: “rejected indeed by man, but chosen by God and precious.”

The fact is, God trusted me with my enemies. He trusted I would not shoot them (although I felt like it sometimes), He trusted they would be used as instruments of getting me away from people pleasing (a form of idolatry), He trusted I would learn to see my enemies through His eyes, He trusted I would not let my heart get hardened and bitter and turn away from God.

I have yet to see the kind of vengeance on my enemies I think they deserve, but the fact is, that isn’t my business anymore because I turned them over to God. And just as God has been merciful and slow to anger with me, He’s being merciful with those people too. In God’s perfect timing, judgment will come. I know it will.

Yes, my enemies have done me great favors. Thank you, God, for trusting me with them. Bless them, God.