Heard vs Believed

There’s a difference between being HEARD and being BELIEVED.

When someone cries out, [I’m hurt, I’m oppressed, I’m in pain, I’ve been wronged...etc] The righteous must stop and allow them to be heard because of their cry. We must live a life of compassion towards those around us and do what we can to extend a hand up when needed.

But, the challenge with the social pressure to allow people to be “Heard” is that usually what’s implied is that once you “hear” you must then believe that person. Pausing to listen is important so that we don’t overlook injustice that might be taking place, but that doesn’t automatically mean it must be believed.

All that’s required to be heard is a feeling of injustice, but, BELIEF must require truth.

We don’t do “victims” favors by reinforcing a feeling that was disproved by truth. The only way forward for those who feel oppressed but aren’t is to help them to embrace truth. We’re actually victimizing people when we reinforce a feeling of oppression that isn’t substantiated.  

Having said that, when the cry of the truly oppressed reaches the ears of the righteous we must not be indifferent or turn a deaf ear or blind eye or God will do the same to us. If you’ve been blessed, it’s not just for your own consumption, when God blesses you, he then also expects you to replicate that same generosity to those in your sphere of influence.