Recently I was in a new situation with new people who had never met me before. Our points of view were different, our frames of reference were different; our word-views were different. And yet, I was still surprised when we clashed our first week together!

That’s Not What I Meant

I thought we were working together in one way and I was missing all the unwritten rules. Next thing I knew, I was being completely misunderstood. I was trying to explain that’s not what I meant and no, I really wasn’t trying to be controlling or intimidating. It was thought I was questioning authority, which is SO “not me.” I was distressed. I cried.

Then, a thought came to me, not on my own, but from the Lord. This was a little bit of what Jesus must have felt when He was on earth, especially at the end. He was accused of sedition, but that wasn’t His purpose. He was accused of leading a rebellion, which wasn’t true. Jesus would never walk in rebellion. Jesus only walked in obedience to God His Father. Jesus was misunderstood by so many, when all He was trying to do was love people and bring them life.

Jesus Was Misunderstood

I’ve been told before that if I hurt over what people think of me, that’s just pride, but in this case, I don’t think it is. The Bible tells us a good name is to be desired above great riches (Prov. 22:1) and we are supposed to care what people think of our character. It’s hurts to have your character questioned. It hurts to be misunderstood and to have your words or actions misinterpreted. But when this happens, we need to look to Jesus as our example and follow in His footsteps.

Jesus felt that pain –magnified! Yet, He kept on with His mission. And this is key–He didn’t try to justify Himself or explain to people that they were misjudging Him. He just kept showing them the Father and speaking truth. He kept loving them and serving them, even to the point of laying down His life.

The Answer: the Servant

We want to jump into the flesh (and this is where we will let pride in if we’re not careful) and clear our name. Justify! Explain! But that’s not always the best course of action. Jesus will clear our name, as we follow in His steps of servanthood. People will see Him if we keep loving them and showing them the Father. Jesus’ light will shine through if we humbly, meekly and sometimes quietly, Serve.

I determined to be a servant, to be a help. I asked God to give me favor and to shine through me. Hopefully, the love and humility of Christ are coming through.

Have you ever been misunderstood? How did you feel and what did you do about it?