We humans abuse one another on a regular basis. We often see this as little stuff. This is something that Satan desires and facilitates. This abuse, if allowed, imprisons both the abuser and the one doing the abuse and it wastes precious time in lower realms when our souls should be free and seeking, hearing and doing what our God asks.

Let me give you an example. A husband is unhappy with something his wife did. Her action was not meant as an offense. The husband becomes angry, but not openly. He stews on the perceived hurt and begins to say hurtful things to get a reaction—hopefully a "well deserved" apology from his wife. He is upset and projects this anger upon his wife until he gets the desired result. The husband is attempting to trample upon the wife's sacred ground by reaching out his spiritual arms and grab her to force, or exact what he feel is his due.

His wife then, has two choices. The first, which is the one most often resorted to, is to become angry as well. She wasn't understood, she meant no offense, but if her husband is going to be rude and hurtful to her, then by golly, she is going to exact her just reward.1 Thus both sides are now entrapped in a heated exchange, until hours or days later, apologies are offered and kindness extended. Both have been imprisoned. For both, precious time is wasted and often for both feelings, while forgiven, still remain raw (not truly and fully forgiven).

Her second choice, then, is to see what is happening, recognize the spiritual trap set for her, which has time and time again brought her down into misery, and choose not to participate. This is the really important part. Non-participation does not mean ignoring, not listening, or giving her husband the silent treatment. Nor does it mean becoming upset and just not saying anything hurtful back. It means recognizing what's going on, and recognizing that her husband is entrapping himself and that mercy and love needs to be extended. This kind of mercy says, I don't like what you're doing, but I'm not going to be part of it, and I will show you love now, and show you love when you are done raging. I will have no part in it except to love you. I love you.

"For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away." (3 Nephi 11:29-30)

What happens when the second choice is made is nothing short of a miracle to those who have been trapped in this kind of abusive cycle. There are a thousand more examples, just like this one, that could be described between parents and children, between siblings, friends, between parishioner and priest, co-workers or strangers. We even, at times, seek this kind of relationship with God.

This life is about learning to break the bands of death,2 and whatever principle of intelligence we attain to here, will rise with us in the resurrection. We must gain more knowledge than the spirits that seek to imprison us and our loved ones. Let them be loved always, and not just when they "deserve" it, or we will find ourselves receiving exactly what we deserve. And I expect in almost all cases, what we deserve is the whirlwind.

Most often, when we are bombarded by wicked spirits: depression, anger, hurt, malaise, there is something we need to learn. When we learn, those wicked spirits flee, and we are free.

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:32-36)

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30)

 

Notes

1. And that's just it. If she's successful, she gets her reward of justice, for she was unjustly targeted and she demands justice. Because justice was demanded, she has no claim on mercy for her own sins. Therefore justice is returned for justice and mercy claimeth the merciful.

2. We can only break these bands by the mercy Christ extends toward us to do so.