Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me; meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments. Psalms 119:78

 

When a best friend turns on you, it’s one of the most painful things in life. How do you respond when you’re wronged and worse…slandered?

 

Arturo and Daniel were boyhood friends and then business partners. At mid-life, Daniel’s life began to careen out of control, and he stole money from their business. He also went to all of their mutual friends, one by one, and told lies about Arturo. Arturo was hurt, angry and horrified over the mess he had to address. He hadn’t done anything wrong and his reputation seemed destroyed.

 

Maybe you’ve felt like Arturo or like David, the writer of Psalm 119 in the Bible when he cried out to God, saying “Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me; meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments” (Psalm 119:78). David had seen an important friendship go very wrong and years later, he would look back on his life and advise people in this hard place. His conclusion? “Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes” (Psalm 37:7).

 

David had learned the benefit of focusing hard, not on the wrong that had been done to him or wondering what others were thinking of him now, but on what he knew to be true in God’s Word, the Bible. God cares about everything that happens to us, especially the wrong. He’s not asking us to just “let it go,” as if wrongs don’t matter but rather, to leave evildoers to Him to deal with. We can depend on Him and the promises He makes to us for our lives even when have been very wronged.