If we ever needed to know how to overcome Hate, this is the time. Hate, as vile and reprehensible as it is, cannot be out-argued, out-protested, or shouted down. Only Love can overcome Hate.
Only Love can overcome Hate — but how? Love cannot prevail by hating Hate. To overcome Hate, Love must be, like God’s Love: pure. So I am praying that when Love meets Hate it will be Love that is patient and kind; Love that does not boast or envy; Love that is not arrogant or rude. I pray that in the face of Hate, Love will not insist on having its own way; will not be irritable or resentful; that Love will not rejoice in wrongdoing but will rejoice in the truth. I am praying that Hate will be met by Love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
God’s approach to Love does not fit our human calculus of how to overcome Hate, yet I am convinced that any other love will feed, not overcome, Hate. Faced with the vileness of the hatred we see today it may feel impossible to love with Godly Love. It may well be impossible if we move solely out of our own strength and reason, but it is not impossible for God. He can transform our hearts and help us to love with His Love.
So I am praying that today’s Hate will be met by Love, God’s holy version of Love.
How are you praying?
Featured image By RecycledStarDust [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
From Pops' Workshop 
