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Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Insulted (11/01/04)
TITLE: Anatomy of an Insult
By Geri Rosser
11/08/04
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It washes over me quickly, the momentary shame leading to an awareness of injustice against me and the need to strike back that comes from my natural, human defenses. You said something about me in my presence that I took personally; now I am insulted, and for lack of a better response, I will remain cool and silent for a while in your presence.

But my initial response begs the question: Is there enough truth in your insult to warrant your words, to lead me to a change that really needs to be made in my life?

There are so many ways to deal with insults:

1) Calmly ignore them and move on;
2) Rail against them in defense, volume and gestures escalating into caricature;
3) Take them as humor, hoping to deliver the quickest, wittiest, most biting comeback known to man;
4) Be hurt deeply by them and sever relational ties with the insulter;
5) Use them as new means for pleasing people through obsessive-compulsive behavior intended to fix the commented upon behavior or attitude;

But rarely after being insulted will I step back to take stock of your remark, trying to find the glimmer of truth that so wounded my spirit because I know it’s true.

What does scripture say to do?

“A prudent man overlooks an insult” —Proverbs 12:16

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” —Matthew 5:11-12

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” —II Corinthians 12:10

You tell me to overlook insults; rejoice in insults; delight in insults. For here, God, You not only get my attention for correction, but you allow me to somehow share in your sufferings, and to find in my weakness Your strength. May it be unto us as Your Word has spoken.

Anatomy of an Insult
©2004, Geri Rosser