Who is that person in your life who always seems to know exactly what to say or do to get you from zero to rage in 60 seconds? They push and they push and as usual you walk right into the trap and explode in anger. Perhaps you have more than one person in your life who is skilled at causing you to tie your chest in a knot, scream, yell or try desperately to restrain yourself from doing something that would bring highly undesirable consequences.
How many times have you been driven to this state by these people or group of people? Why is it that no matter how many times we go there, we somehow believe that it won’t happen again? Why do we expect people to do something or be anything other than what they are?
The key to dealing with the difficult ones is to simply accept them! They are who they are. If you expect them to be anyone else, you will be upset and disappointed every time. In fact, we would all be happier if we simply started accepting people for who they are, even if we think they should be something else. If you do not accept them, you judge them, and that is not a seat you want to sit in.
Don’t forget that you are most likely someone else’s “difficult one.” If there isn’t a person on the earth who can say you have been difficult, God can say it. He sees and knows all.
Pray for people in your life that you find it hard to get along with and maintain your position of peace. Follow the example of Jesus. He did not seek trouble or react defensively. He maintained His position, accepting people as they were and remaining who He was at all times.
Try love, understanding and forgiveness when dealing with the difficult people in your life. Give people the same grace and mercy that you need for yourself.
Matthew 7:1-2 (New International Version)
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
This is a fight where you will not throw any punches. No kicking or grappling is needed. In fact, no matter what your opponent throws at you, all you need to do is stand.
What sort of fight can you win by simply standing there? When a fighter does not follow the rules they can be disqualified and even banned from future fights. When someone attacks a child of God, they are breaking the rules and will be dealt with accordingly. God reminds me that when someone assaults me on a mental or spiritual level, it is not my fight; He is the One who defends me.
God is still dealing with me concerning anger. He showed me that while it is natural to experience certain feelings, it is not natural to allow those feelings to control me or cause me to lose control. Several things happened to test my self-control and I had to walk away with my anger without retaliating the way I wanted to. This is not necessarily easy to do when someone comes into your space and disrespects you or tries to mar your character.
The Lord showed me it is more important to forgive and recognize that people do ugly things because of what is lacking in their own lives.
Once I recognize that it is not my fight, I can just stand. While they are steady throwing punches or whatever else they can – I stand. When they try to bring up my past or call me out of my name, I stand on my identity in Christ, knowing that I am a new creature and old things have passed away. When they try to spitefully use me or my family I stand knowing that we will not fall prey to these tactics. When they try to bring their misery into my peaceful, happy world, I stand in thankfulness because God has brought me to a better place.
Determine not to let anyone push you off your mark with their attacks. When all is said and done, after you’ve left the battle in God’s hands, you will be the one still standing.
1 Samuel 17:45-48 (New International Version)
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
Ephesians 4:25-27 (New International Version)
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26“In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold.
1 Timothy 2:8 (Amplified Bible)
8I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubt [in their minds], lifting up holy hands.
