Why Are You So Difficult? –Thursday

Week 5 | OUT – Loving More People

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Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

I think there’s one aspect of loving others that can be difficult.  It seems like there are certain people that just seem to know how to push all the wrong buttons. Inevitably, we all encounter people who are just more difficult to love. My wife has someone that continually does this…other than me 🙂.  I remember her telling me once that she asks God to help her “want” to pray for them, because if she’s honest, she doesn’t want to even do th.   People in this category might have different beliefs or viewpoints than we do, and we can often find ourselves frustrated when they don’t agree with us.  However, we don’t have to stay in this frustrating place. Here are three ways to love difficult people:

Show compassion. Everyone saw a leper with no name, but Jesus saw a man with pain and a story. We don’t always know the background or experiences of someone. We might make assumptions, but it’s often very short-sighted of us to think we can know why someone acts that way without really knowing them. So, let’s show compassion for people instead of jumping to conclusions that may just be untrue. 

Focus on similarities. There will always be someone we don’t agree with. In fact, there’s probably no one on the planet that we agree with fully. We could narrow in on what divides us, or we could simply choose to focus on where we’re united. 

Pray. This is the most valuable thing you can do, but it isn’t the only thing. Praying for people we don’t agree with will soften our hearts toward them. We’ll begin to truly want what’s best for them. I’ve watched my wife have her heart soften (some) towards her person. So much so, that the last time they met, she even hugged the person!   Everyone has value and is made in God’s image.  Try to remind yourself of that the next time you’re dealing with a difficult person. 

Don’t forget this week’s Chasing Epic Challenge is to bless at least three people with a kind word, random act of kindness or gift.  Put others first.

Prayer for the Day

God what are you  showing me?  What am I going to do about it? 

God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?

Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.

Read The New Testament In A Year

4 x 6 Plan | Read: Mark 6:14-30 & 1 Corinthians 12:12-21