When Criticism Comes

What happens when someone doesn't believe in the work you believe God has assigned to you on this earth? How do you respond to criticism, and even condemnation, from people around you when your heart is breaking from their hurtful words?

I recently faced this dilemma when a concerned individual challenged my writing, and specifically the idea of me sharing pieces of my story with the world. Whether this person was motivated by love or fear, it is not clear. I want to believe it was love, but based on what I heard, it sounded more like fear.

Should I be afraid of the spiritual ramifications of sharing my testimony with the world? Will my words come back to haunt me?

In Mark, Chapter 5, Jesus healed a man from a legion of demons. Immediately the town heard about it and they came to Jesus to see for themselves what had happened in their town. While they were intrigued by the man's healing, they were afraid of Jesus' work in their city so they asked Him to leave. But the healed man wanted to leave with Jesus in the boat. The Lord replied, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

The man obeyed and declared what Jesus had done for him in the Decapolis, a very large area which included ten cities. This man went to as much of the world as he could to share the good news of Christ's redemptive work in his life. Many were astounded.

The famous preacher, Charles Spurgeon, put it this way: "There are some people who could tell a story very like this man's, a story of slavery to Satan, and deliverance by the power of Christ. If you can tell such a story, do not keep it to yourself. If Jesus has done great things for thee, be ever ready to speak of it, till all men shall know what Christ can do. I think that great sinners who have been saved are specially called upon to publish the good news, the gospel of the grace of God."

I am a great sinner, rejecting God's word at various times throughout my life. I have broken His commands and sought after my own methods to accomplish my own goals. I have relied on myself to fix problems. I have sought after world systems to help me. I have rejected the knowledge of God. I have hurt those around me with my actions. I am in need of a Savior.

Praise Jesus, He found me. In fact, He was there with me the whole time, waiting for me to turnaround and see Him. Once I accepted Christ as my true Savior, an unimaginable peace washed over me. When I began pursuing the study of His word on my own, rather than reading or listening to what others had to say about Him, I got to experience the joy of my salvation. And today, I continue to experience that joy as long as I reside in Him and His word every day.

My words will never compare to God's words. They are simply my offering, placed before an Almighty God who is free to use them however He sees fit. While I make every attempt to guard my mouth, speak truth, and protect others, I will fail from time to time. If I hurt you, I am sorry. Please forgive me and let me know what I can do to make the situation right.

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." - Mark 16:15

So, will I worry about sharing my testimony? No, it is the Lord's work in my life. What I should be concerned about is NOT sharing my testimony and letting others perish into eternal destruction.

I admit, there is some type of odd boldness that comes over me as I write. I try not to think about the whole world seeing my "stuff". Instead, I try to focus on the individuals that God wants to bring His message to. Do I have this same boldness in real life? Not yet. I am a recovering introvert, as one pastor might call it.

However, another pastor encouraged me with this: Even introverts must find a way to share the gospel. They are not exempt from sharing the good news.

Have you been encouraged today? Do you have someone in your life that questions God's work through your life? Take heart with these words from 1 Peter 3:8-9, "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."