"Will you still trust Me when your reputation is on the line?"

I read this devotional on Wednesday at work and I've been thinking about it all week so I thought I would share it with you all:

2 Samuel 16:12 "Perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today."

"Why do we care what other people think of us?

Every now and then you meet someone with the uncanny ability to brush off negative comments about themselves. As for the rest of us, no matter how old or successful we appear, we're still vulnerable to hits against our reputation. Once in a while the hurt sneaks up and tweaks our self-esteem, leaving us perplexed about how to protect our good name and wondering if others believe the bad stuff.

King David was no stranger to rumors or heckling. It must have felt invasive to face accusations from strangers like Shimei, who didn't know him but based his opinion of him on hearsay.

To combat Shimei's negativity, David chose the quiet way. A wise military strategist, he was capable of fighting back. But he knew that sometimes the best way to tame the enemy is to refuse to engage in battle. David didn't combat Shimei but let the man level all the verbal assaults he wanted.

Sometimes fighting back only provides more ammo for the accuser. David was accused of stealing the throne; he certainly wasn't going to respond with violence and give people reason to believe the lies. Perhaps he knew that Shimei's tirades would reveal more about Shimei than about David, as accusations usually do.

David released his reputation into God's hands and made his life about God's reputation instead of his own. If someone wanted to diss him, so be it. God knew the truth, as long as David was living for God, no one's words could thwart what God accomplished through David.

There always will be someone who doesn't like you, for good reason or no reason. Don't give them cause to back up their feelings. Your reputation is on the line only with God, so look to him to clear things up when it matters, and continue quietly with your business."