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I Wanted to Clap Back… But God
- Canena Adams, M.A., B.S.W., S.R.A.S.
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Let’s be honest—hurt hurts. Maybe you’re reading this and still carrying the sting of betrayal, the ache of being overlooked, the weight of being wronged. I get it. I really do. And I want to be vulnerable with you for a moment.
I’m a pretty feisty person. If you know me, you know I don’t shy away from hard conversations or advocating for myself or others. I speak up. I fight for what’s right. And when someone I care about hurts me—whew, it cuts deep. My natural instinct? To defend myself. To call it out. To come for their head, if I’m honest.
But here’s the thing…
When I’ve sat with that pain—when the anger has simmered and I finally get quiet—God deals with my heart. And more times than I’d like to admit, I’ve had to take the lower road. Not because I was weak. But because my faith, my love, and my obedience to God were stronger than my need to be right.
And y’all—it’s not easy. It’s hard. It’s humbling. And sometimes it feels unfair. But today’s sermon was a reminder I didn’t know I needed. Maybe you need it too.
How do you deal with hurt? The Jesus way.
Jesus chose Judas. He walked with him. Broke bread with him. Invested in him. And still—betrayed. Jesus was lied on, mocked, misunderstood, and mistreated by the very people He loved and poured into. But on that cross, in the midst of His own agony, He whispered the most counter-cultural words:"Father, forgive them… for they know not what they do." That part hit me.
This walk with Christ? It calls us to handle hurt differently. To not just survive it—but to be transformed through it.
Here are a few powerful principles I’m still processing from Pastor Brandon's message:
See the big picture – Sometimes, people really don’t know the depth of their damage.
Love overlooks – It doesn’t mean you don’t see the offense. It means you choose not to hold it against them.
Look beyond the person and see the pain – Hurt people do hurt people.
Your pain can propel you toward your purpose – The cross had to come before the crown.
Forgiveness doesn’t excuse behavior. It doesn’t automatically mean reconciliation (that part is mutual). But forgiveness is obedience. It's a choice we make daily—not for them, but for our own freedom.
Unforgiveness is heavy. It builds walls around our heart. And before we know it, we’re the ones in prison while the other person walks free.
Forgiveness? It’s hard.But unforgiveness? It’s harder.
“Love your enemies. Feed them. This is what it looks like to grow up.” -Pastor Brandon
And that’s it, y’all. Maturity in Christ doesn’t always look like power moves or public vindication. Sometimes, it looks like silence. Sometimes, it looks like a gentle response when everything in you wants to clap back. Sometimes, it looks like releasing the need for closure and trusting God to settle the score. It looks like choosing peace over pride.
Because eternity is the reward. And the healing that comes from doing it God's way? Unmatched.
So to anyone who’s still healing, still wrestling, still trying to figure out what to do with the hurt—you’re not alone. I see you. More importantly, God sees you.
And He knows the way through it.
Canena Adams, MA, BSW, SRAS
Communications Professional & Leadership Coach
Wife | Mother | Writer | Author | Public Speaker | Social Worker | Business Owner | Nonprofit Founder & Director | Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist | Healthy Family & Relationship Advocate | Blogger | Podcaster | Adjunct College Prof. | PhD Student | And more...
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