When Honor Is Denied

Morning watch 7/18/25 - 5:30 am

Scripture Reflection: 1 Peter 2:17 — “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”Yesterday, I shared something sacred—a milestone, a labor of love, a book born of prayer, sweat, and presence. I posted it in a group I belong to, hoping perhaps it might resonate or encourage. Instead, a woman—who knows nothing of my story, my ministry, or the weight I carry—chose to speak not from curiosity, but from contempt. Her question wasn’t a question. It was an accusation: “How much did you write, and how much was AI?”

It wasn’t just about authorship. It was about worth. About whether my voice was real. About whether my offering deserved to be honored.

I know her history. She’s been removed from leadership for similar behavior. But today, I’m not journaling about her—I’m journaling about what it means to keep showing up with dignity when dignity is denied.

I’m reminded that disrespect often reveals more about the speaker than the spoken-to. And I’m reminded that my work is not for applause, nor is it fragile enough to be undone by a careless tongue.

So I ask myself:

What does it mean to honor my own voice when others won’t?
How do I respond—not with retaliation, but with rootedness?
Can I bless even those who mock, knowing that my offering is unto God?
I choose not to let her words define the worth of my work. I choose to keep writing, keep posting, keep showing up. Not because I’m unbothered—but because I’m anchored.