Violated
Burglars broke into my parents house this weekend in Dallas, Texas. They pried open the locked front door in broad daylight while nobody was home. The robbers grabbed my brother’s Apple Macbook Pro and one of his bass guitars. They left without leaving a thank you note, without saying goodbye, and without locking the front door which they destroyed upon entry.
Thankfully, nobody was hurt (including the two dogs who were closed in the bathrooms in the house). Nothing else was taken.
But I’m sure my parents and my brother felt violated.
The natural reaction to this kind of incident is anger, disappointment, and fear. What would drive people to break into someone’s house and take what is not their property? How do we prevent people from violating us like this? Will they ever come back? Will they be caught? The list of questions and thoughts could go on for quite a while.
I was mad when I initially heard the news.
And then something hit me. This verse came to my mind from the book of Romans:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Romans 12:14
I changed one word in the verse as I thought about the burglars – Bless those who violate you; bless and do not curse.
Really? Bless those who broke into my parents house? Bless those who stole my brothers stuff? That’s easier said than done. But it has to start somewhere. And so, I prayed. Here’s my prayer.
A Prayer For Those Who Violate Others
I pray the burglars would be caught.
I pray they would be rehabilitated.
I pray the robbers would recognize the error of their ways.
I pray they would feel remorse.
I pray for a transformation in their lives.
I pray for a bright future for them that differs greatly from the past which led them to robbing people’s homes.
I ultimately pray they would find God – that they would know the love of Christ and the power of His forgiveness, mercy, and grace.
This is my prayer for those who violated.
How have you responded when you’ve been violated? What suggestions do you have for those who have been violated?