Misunderstandings

Have you ever been misunderstood before?  Have you ever said something to someone only to find out the person misunderstood what you said?  When this happens there can be a lot of hurt and pain.  I have experienced this at different times in my life.  This usually happens when people don’t listen closely to what you say.  The problem with this is that many people can be hurt by what is said for no reason.

I know a man that was misunderstood by someone when he said something about someone to a person and that person went and told the people what they thought they heard and brought much unnecessary pain to that family that may never be made right.  Because of that incident the man who said what was said was hurt very deeply also but he has forgiven all who were involved in the incident.

When these things happen in a Christian’s life it can affect that person’s testimony and the people who looked up to him may see him in a whole different way every time they hear his name.  I know misunderstandings happen very often and it is a real problem everywhere.

Another problem is that people seem to have selective hearing and only hear what interests them; then there are those who like to twist words around to their own advantage.  This same thing happens when the gospel is preached or taught.  People’s minds are consumed with so many other things that it is hard to be a good listener.

Kids say things that are misunderstood all the time by parents and vice a versa because they aren’t listening to one another.  I wonder how many marriages have been destroyed because of misunderstandings.  How many people fight and fume and blow up over some silly misunderstanding?  We would be surprised at how many people have been beat up or even killed over some foolish misunderstanding.

It is a real shame how many people are so bitter and angry because of what they thought someone said about them.  This is an easy way to cause gossip to take place.  It starts with a misunderstanding and as it is talked about people add to what was said and then the whole thing gets so distorted there is no way to repair the damage that was caused.  

This reminds me of a story I heard quite a while ago.  I will give you my version, it will cost you nothing.  A lady went to her pastor and confessed that she had been gossiping about people and she wanted to know what she should do about it. The pastor told her to get a pillowcase and fill it with feathers and come back to see him.  So she did what he said, then he said to take it up on the top floor of the Empire State Building and dump all the feathers over the wall and come back to see him.  It was quite a windy day and the feathers flew all over the place when she dumped them.  Then she went back to see the pastor and told him what she did. The pastor told her now go and pick up all the feathers.  Like I said some of the damage that happens when we misunderstand what we hear may not be repairable.

This kind of thing happened in the days when Jesus walked the earth also. Let me give you one example that is found in John 21:18-23 which says, “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”  Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)  When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”  Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”  Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die.  But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

Maybe you are the one that misunderstood someone and repeated what you thought you heard and caused a lot of pain and anguish for others.  If you have, confess it to the Lord and ask Him to help you to refrain from these things in the future, and tell Him you are sorry and try to make things right the best you can.  These things are so easily said, but in many cases so hard to do, but with the Lord’s help you can.  I hope this is a help to you whether you find yourself in this situation or not.  God bless you and have a great day.