When Being Misunderstood Is Not Important

Some things just grate against my soul; being misunderstood is one of them.

I fight against it so hard at times, hoping that with the right words or explanations, I can make myself clear.  I am under the illusion that with enough clarity, there can be understanding.

Honestly, it can be a stumbling block for me. I feel no peace from being perceived “incorrectly”, from  being wrongly accused or mislabeled.

That is why as I read Daniel 4:1-37, I am amazed at the response Daniel gives at being mislabeled  for who he was. He had been exiled into Babylon and groomed for service to the king in his palace. Being educated and trained for three years for this new role, he entered the life he never wanted or chose.

Right from the start, I witness Daniel’s peace and acceptance with his circumstances. He had already been instructed to submit to the exile in Jeremiah 29. The prophet Jeremiah told the Israelites to yield to what God was allowing because of their sin. They were informed to willingly go into exile and put forth their best effort to make a life for themselves while they were there. Jeremiah warned them not to fight against it or sabotage it.

Daniel  abides graciously with these instructions. He not only submits, he excels at what he is asked to do. Even more, peace personifies him while in Babylon. This in and of itself is admirable.

He looses his homeland and family, but even worse, he looses his identity. Daniel 4:8-9 says,

Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. ( He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) I said,’  Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, ………’ 

Daniel never seems to miss a beat as he is mislabeled, wrongly named after a false god, and misunderstood as a “magician”. His correct identity and purpose in life are lost in translation so to speak. But what is surprising is how content he is with it!

Nowhere do we read that he fought against being misunderstood, that he tried to relentlessly correct their misconceptions. He accepted it, giving himself fully to meet their needs.

Who does this remind me of………?

Jesus personified peace as He accepted being misunderstood on the cross. He was wrongly accused and mislabeled continually, yet He ceased to try and correct the misconceptions while being nailed on the cross. He submitted to being misunderstood, giving His sinless sacrifice for the sins of others.

Some time ago, God convicted me of this as I fought for being correctly “perceived”. He chastened me with the example of Christ. I was reminded that Jesus was not up there on the cross saying, ” Alright, let’s go over this one more time!! I am not who you say I am nor guilty of what you accuse me!  You need to understand that!!”

Instead, He was willing to be misunderstood. 1 Peter 2:23-34 says,

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Jesus knew there came a time when being misunderstood was not important. It was secondary to the will of God. 

Daniel understood this as well in his life……and so must I.

If God is Sovereign, then He could correct misconceptions at any time. Yet, what I am learning is that sometimes, He has a higher purpose for me being misunderstood. It is then I need to be like Daniel and Jesus, accepting of the misconceptions while still giving my utmost for His highest.

Do you find yourself being misunderstood? Are you in turmoil over it? First, we must all ask God if there is any truth in someone else’s accusations or misconceptions. If God offers no correction and the other people are still unable or unwilling to see our perspective, then we must be willing to be misunderstood……..and at peace with it like Daniel and Jesus.

To God’s glory and grace, we can and we will!