An unfortunate and often devastating fact of life is that people will sometimes hurt you. They may mistreat and misunderstand you. Our world is full of villains, and that’s why there are many victims. But even if someone legitimately hurts you deeply, you must not stay in a victim mindset. The victim mindset will hurt you far worse than whatever the villains in your life have done to you.
A person who tells himself that he is a victim is also a person who says “I don’t have to take responsibility for my life, and I can blame my failures on someone else." "After all," he thinks, "if so-and-so had not done this to me, I could succeed at life. If he or she had treated me differently, I would’ve been something great.”
Listen, I don’t know what they did to you, or how they hurt you, but don’t give THEM the power to define you. Don’t let those problems in the past determine what kind of person you’re going to be in the future.
For example, the Book of Genesis records details of the life of Joseph. His brothers tried to kill him. They threw him into a pit, and then they sold him into slavery. Later, Joseph was imprisoned for doing right; remember, he fled the advances of Potiphar’s wife, and as a result he served two years in prison.
There were many villains in Joseph’s life, but nowhere does Scripture indicate that he saw himself as a victim. Instead, the opposite is true: Joseph was a victor! He went through legitimately terrible circumstances, but nowhere does Scripture record his using those things as an excuse to fail at life. He didn’t let the actions of others inhibit him from doing amazing things.
In the end, Joseph is a great example of Romans 8:28, of all things working together for good. The villains in Joseph’s life are all a part of his story. If Joseph didn’t have those villains in the beginning of his story, he wouldn’t have had such victory at the end of his story.
Joseph is a type of Christ in the Bible. Because of Christ, “we [Christians today] are more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37). Also, Jesus teaches us that “in the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer [He said]; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
If you are a believer, remember that “ye are of God, little children,” and “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4). Christians aren’t victims; no matter what the villains do to us, we are victors because of Christ!
I’m saying to you: ditch the victim mindset! Your mind is extremely powerful. Focus your mind on the truths you just read. Preach their promises to yourself. Be the victor, the overcomer, that God wants to enable you to be, and do it for His glory!
The above article was written by James C. Johnson. He is the pastor of NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. To offer him your feedback, comment below or email us at strengthforlife461@gmail.com.
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