Okay, I'll say it. I don’t always want to pray for some people.
Does that sound unpastoral? Maybe even unChristian?
Just like you, people have hurt me, disappointed me, ignored me, or straight up disliked me, to say it nicely. There are names that come to mind I'd rather forget. So, when I hear Jesus say, “Pray for them,” my first response is usually something like, “Really? Them?" As if God doesn't know the history.
When I catch that feeling, I remember that's probably part of the point. Part of maturing means learning to talk things out when possible. We should do the hard thing of addressing issues with others. But Jesus tells us to make sure to pray for those people, too.
How silly I must sound to God sometimes. Jesus prayed for those who nailed him to a cross. “Father, forgive them,” he said, with pain, breathlessness and love. Jesus prayed while people mocked him. He prayed when they didn’t ask for it. And when they didn't deserve it. He prayed when it didn’t seem like it would change anything.
Again, isn't that the point? 
Praying for someone who hurt you doesn’t excuse what they did. It doesn’t minimize the pain or mean you pretend it didn’t matter. Nor does it mean there shouldn't be real consequences to discern. But it does mean we give that person over to God. We stop carrying the weight of their harm ourselves. We stop rehearsing the wound and start seeking healing. Because bitterness is not a fruit of the Spirit, friend. You'll never know the peace of God if you insist on holding every hurt yourself.
So today, think of someone you’ve been avoiding in prayer. You don’t have to know what to say. Start with their name. God knows the rest.
Stay blessed...john | 
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