Dealing with Difficult People

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 3, 2015

Guest Writer: Meet my friend Shana Schutte. We are blessed to have her as our guest writer.

But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27

I am married to a man who believes an adventurous, full life begins with three letters: Y-E-S. So he likes to live by the motto, “Say yes more than you say no.” In the Christian life, there are many things that are easy to say yes to. Yes, Lord. I receive that blessing! Yes, Lord. I’ll give you that burden. Yes, Lord. I’ll take that promotion. But there can be more difficult yeses like, Yes, Lord. I’ll forgive. And, Yes, Lord. I’ll pray for my enemy (or that person who is driving me crazy).

The majority of what I write about comes from truths God has revealed to me through Scripture or through life’s circumstances. Right now, God is teaching me about dealing with difficult people. So if you are dealing with a difficult person or someone you would even call an adversary or an enemy, I hope the following helps you say yes to doing spiritual battle God’s way. I recently read 2 Timothy 2:26 in which Paul tells Timothy to gently instruct those who oppose him. . .

“. . .that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil. . .”

The word “devil” in this sentence reminded me things are often not as they seem because there is a spiritual realm we can’t discern, and that people can be taken captive by the devil to do his will. Immediately Ephesians 6:12 came to mind. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Is it time to get your eyes off the one you see as your adversary and identify your real Adversary? Moving your gaze from flesh and blood to evil powers and forces you can’t see in the spiritual realm can transform you from a blamer and finger pointer aimed at the wrong target to a righteous pray-er who does battle for Christ. When life throws us a difficult relationship, it’s easy to focus solely on the person who seems to be causing our problems. But if we want to do spiritual battle for Christ and foil the devil’s scheme to stir up trouble, isn’t the superior alternative to say Y-E-S to prayer? What if we turn the tables on Satan and come against him for the benefit and freedom of the difficult person in our lives? One of my Facebook friends said it best, “Note to self: My adversary is in need of my prayers for deliverance, [they are not in need of] my anger, bitterness, and resentment.”

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. . . “ (Matthew 5:44-45)

Prayer: “Lord, give me the wisdom to remember that things are not as they appear, that I am doing battle against dark forces I can’t see. Help me remember to pray for my enemies and for the difficult people in my life. Amen.”

Application: If you are dealing with a difficult person in your life, pray for them right now and ask God to bless them. 

Related Readings: Ephesians 4:32; Acts 7:60; Luke 6:27-36

Tweet/Post this today: Is it time to get your eyes off your enemy and onto your real Adversary? #WisdomHunters #WeWrestleNotAgainstFleshAndBlood

Worship Resource: 7 minute video- Jenn Johnson: Then Sings My Soul

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