We live in a world where one voice speaks loudly, but it's message is division, destruction, and death. The other voice is softer, but it's message is life, hope, joy, and peace.
We all have difficult people we have to deal with on a daily basis. But the most difficult person each of us has to deal with is ourself. If we are honest enough to admit it, we cause ourselves more trouble than others do.
Dealing with angry people tests our witness. People are watching. We can lose our temper as well, or we can respond calmly and with love. In the Bible, David succeeded because he turned to the One stronger and wiser than himself. We can learn from his example.
At times we need the help of a pastor or godly friend to help us see our situation clearly. In other cases, when we humbly ask God to show us the reason for our misery, he gently directs us to look in the mirror.
“Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
God's words are strong and powerful but He often chooses to speak in the softest voice. He wants us to be still so that we can clearly hear His heart.
Keep in mind that defensive people usually are acting from their subconscious and that they generally are not trying to create problems or difficulty. Defensive people often are working from a self-protective instinct and are trying to avoid others attacking them by preemptively attacking others first.
David had many faults, but he was the only person in the Bible God called "a man after my own heart." (Acts 13:22, NIV) Why? Because David depended completely on God to direct his life, including dealing with difficult people.
We can't control difficult people and we can't change them - only God can change their heart, but with God's guidance we can understand them better and find a way to cope with them.
I think we can all relate to someone in our lives who is hard to be around and makes it a struggle to respond in a Christ-like way. Dealing with difficult people not only tests our faith in God, but it also puts our witness on display.
One of the scriptures I remind myself of when I am faced with difficult people is Ephesians 6:12
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Always focus on the issue and not on the person.
It is not any one person that is our enemy, the devil and his forces are the ones we are called to battle! Remind yourself, that person is not your enemy. They may be under the influence of some of those “principalities and powers” that the scripture talks about, but the good news is: we have authority over those things! God didn’t give us authority for no reason, use it!
Hurting people, hurt people. But we are called to pray for them. It sure becomes hard to have a bad attitude towards someone you are praying for on a regular basis. One thing I have noticed, is that the more I pray for someone, the more my heart grows for them. I begin to feel God’s love and compassion for them. I also begin to earnestly desire God’s best for them (rather than vengeance). The more we pray for that person, the more we can sense their hurt and show mercy.
Hebrews 3:12-13 says, "See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelievingly heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Which voice will you listen to today? The voice of the world or the voice of truth.
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.
Blessings,
Dalinda
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