Who…. ME….I don’t know what you are talking about….I was just joking! How many times has someone insulted you and then said, “just joking.” I have been surrounded with these “jokers” my whole life. Could God possibly have anything specific on the subject? Shocked to find this one today during my bible reading.
Yep, God singles out the jokers.
“18 Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!” ~ Proverbs 26:18-19 NIV
All I could do was laugh. Bold as day. He even calls them “maniacs.”
If you have ever encountered a narcissistic person you know exactly what this is about. Those “jokes” have no innocent humor to them. They are hurtful. They are stabbing comments covered in maniac excuses of “joking.”
God knows about these people. God knows how to deal with them.
As a victim of a lifetime of narcissistic people in my environment, I remember what it was like to question myself after these “joking” comments. I always wondered why I never thought it was funny. What was wrong with ME that I could not see the humor?
The years, even decades, have clicked by and as I have personally grown, I have been able to see how ridiculous the comments are. It has helped to separate me from the clowns / maniacs, making my life more comfortable.
The deception along with the mean-spirited intent being hidden by the “jokes” are coming to light. Jesus always has a way of bringing things to light.
Part of that light is knowing my own downfalls. With unhealed trauma in my life, I know that I am more sensitive to these comments. Instead of immediately handing them over to God, I do get my feelings hurt by the mean intent. Step 1 — being able to see the error in myself. For me, that is light years better than wondering why I cannot see the humor. Progress, I will take it.
God’s word is truth. It reveals truth. It lights our paths to help us see more clearly.
I so clearly now see all the maniacs in my life who were only “joking.” I see that if God put such an oddball statement in the Bible, He knows all about these maniacs and what is best for their lives.
Instead of retaliation for the mean-spirited intent, I choose to create distance and let God take care of the rest. I do not have a crystal ball to tell me what each maniac needs that will bring him/her closer to God. God has that answer and I find great peace in that.
Pray for the people who hurt us. Forgive them and move on.
The forgiveness is also for us, not just them. As we forgive, we find greater calm and peace in our lives. The calmer we are, the quicker our bodies heal.
Tired of the chronic illness in your life, add another dose of forgiveness to help calm your weary body.
Healing from the soul to the cell!!!!!!
Maribeth Baxter, MBNC (Certified Mind-Body Nourishment Coach)
Beautifully said!
Thanks. God has his ways of getting to the point!!