3 things Difficult People do NOT Know

We all know people who are difficult. Some of us have nightmares about having to interact with them daily. I have learned that it is impossible to avoid them all together while living on earth. The key is to make the best out of the situation and get Godly wisdom from it. Today I want to share 3 things difficult people do not know.

Difficult People do not know They are being Difficult

Her tone of voice was always the same: rasped and abrupt. She did not consider the fact that I had many responsibilities in life. Her goal was to entice me to do it her way. The more I observed this difficult person, I learned that this was a way of life for her and she was not going to change. I decided to do all the changing myself: I changed the places I went so I did not see her. I blocked her phone number. I trembled at the thought of any interaction. While hiding from her one morning, I heard God’s still small voice telling me “Avoiding people is not like Me.” I was convicted of my ways. I decided to keep her phone number blocked and I stopped hiding. I prayed and asked God to give me strength to face a difficult person who did not know she was being difficult. Our next interaction was unavoidable: I was no longer in hiding. I had supernatural grace to speak to her and to politely turn down any of her attempts to rule my life and schedule. I was at awe of God’s ways as she walked away, oblivious still of her difficult personality. There are Godly ways of dealing with difficult people and the highest of these is love.

Difficult people do not know They are Loved

The exchange with God during my hiding episode taught me that God’s love really is encompassing. He loves difficult people. He loves easy people. He died for everyone. He does not discriminate and I am so glad because I believe I can be a difficult person at times. God calls me to love people who are difficult, He did not call me to avoid them. I do believe in boundaries (thus the phone block). I also believe that God means “love one another” when He said it a long time ago. I have since been prayerful about the right way to love difficult people. I often seek Godly wisdom in the subject. I pray about how God would want me to love a difficult person. Sometimes I give them a gift. All the time I treat them well, as God would treat them Himself. All of this is not to cross a check mark but so that I can be like my loving Heavenly Father, who has a master plan for me disguised in every difficult situation.   

Difficult people do not know They are an Instrument to Character Promotion 

The distinctive traits that form our character are developed through tough situations. I believe that when I treat a Difficult person as God would, I become more like Christ. I have gained Compassion, Patience and Resilience through my interaction with difficult people. They have greatly contributed to my devotional life: I am driven to my knees asking God to please give me Grace to represent Him well as I live my life in the presence of difficult people. The only way I can display the joy of the Lord when dealing with a Difficult person is because I have spent time reading the Bible, praying for the person’s well being, forgiving them (without making a big deal about it TO them) and praying that God will rain down blessings from heaven in their lives. Every time I open my Bible I am faced with God’s character towards difficult people and I am given the choice to obey what I read.

I don’t know if you are having ulcers at the thought of dealing with that difficult person again. Take it from me my friend: God loves you both and He can help you through this challenging situation. You’ll get a character promotion at the end if you follow God’s way of loving Difficult People.

Thought of the Day: How can I pray for a difficult person in my life?