We have all been victimized in our lives. Maybe bad things happened in your childhood. You had a tough breakup. You lost your job. You suffered the loss of a loved one. Bad things happen to all of us. How we respond to these things makes a big difference.
Have you ever been guilty of having a victim mentality? This comes into play when you blame everyone else for what happens in your world. You think that the future only holds bad things for you. The deception, “It’s never my fault”, is at the core of the victim mentality.
This may sound strange, but sometimes people get comfortable being the victim. They grow used to feeling sorry for themselves and inviting others to join them. They like having pity parties. I know I love a good pity party occasionally, complete with Hallmark movies and ice cream.
The Bible validates that there are definitely victims in life:
“But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:14
This verse tells us that, if we commit ourselves to his higher power, He will help us to overcome obstacles! God does not want the moments when you have been victimized to become a mindset that will affect everything that happens after in your life. He wants your mindset to be that of a victor! He wants your mindset to reflect, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Jesus is the ultimate example of someone who was victimized but never had a victim mentality. Can you fathom everything that he endured? He was whipped, mocked, a crown of thorns was put on his head, and then his hands and feet were nailed to a cross. 1 Peter 2:22-23 says “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. 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.”
We all face struggles in our lives, but we can choose our attitude in the midst of them. We can wallow in self-pity, take no responsibility, and allow the victim mentality to cast blame on everyone and everything around us, or we can start taking responsibility for our lives and our actions and become a victor instead of a victim!
REFLECT: Do you ever tend to slip into a victim mentality? If so, what will you do to be victorious over the victim mentality?
