DIFFICULT PEOPLE

If the title of this post caught your attention, it is possible that you have a few difficult people in your life.  I have a couple, not as many as I used to, but some.  I’ve come to realize that some people are just going to be that way, but it’s how YOU respond to their antics that will make the difference to the joy and peace in your life.  I expect that those of you who have been personally acquainted with me over the years, can attest to the fact that as I’ve grown in taking God at His word, my relationships with people - even the difficult ones - have improved.

In case you’re interested in which of God’s words made such a difference in my relationships, I’ll share:

·        Ephesians 6:12 - “Our issues aren’t with people, but with spiritual forces that seek to impact our lives.”

·        2 Corinthians 5:15 – “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

·        Matthew 5:44 – “But I say unto you, ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.’”

The message in those 3 verses is that we must understand that there is a God that loves us and there is the opposite, an enemy of our souls whose greatest attempt at deception is to convince us that he doesn’t exist.   You won’t resist an enemy that you don’t know is there.   So when it seems you have issues with people, don’t get mad.  Trust God enough to handle them and the situation according to the way He said.   

God loves you enough to have allowed Jesus to have been sacrificed to redeem you......but not just you, all of us!  If you have accepted that truth, you know that we are not to live for ourselves, but for Him.  So, when you see someone being difficult, please try to remember that God loves them and you need to love them too.  That does not mean that it’s ok for people to mistreat you.  (We spoke about that in an earlier blog.  If you need a refresher & can’t find it, contact me.)  Let the love of Christ shine through you.  Treat difficult people well and pray for them.  And no, this doesn’t mean to just kiss up while you pray that God will change them.  It means that you should be respectful and kind toward them while you pray for God to bless them.  While you’re at it, ask for help to treat them in the way He desires you to.   

In time, things will change.  Be warned, it may not be on your preferred timetable and things may change in ways you don’t expect.  You may even end up changed.  Just know that when you trust God enough to handle things the way He says to, things improve.  And isn’t that what we all want?  So, go on out there.  Improve your life.   Deal with some difficult people today!