Be Thankful For Difficult People?

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

1 Peter 3:9 

 

Ever have to deal with someone you really wish you could just make disappear?  Perhaps they are loud.  Perhaps they are vengeful.  Perhaps they are just irritating.  Maybe they want to engage you in gossip.  Or even expect you to do their work as well as your own.  Fact is, we ALL have to deal with difficult people, even Jesus (remember the guy who asked what tasks he needed to perform to get into heaven?  What about the Pharisees and Scribes?  Then how about the Disciples themselves asking who was going to sit in the places of honor in Heaven?)

 

In seminary, I read a book called "Thank You For Being Such A Pain" and I'll admit, I was skeptical about reading it, mainly because I thought I would be identified BY NAME in its description of such people.  However, the book contained insights that I have found helpful (and I need to re-read the book again).  When we deal with difficult people, we should be THANKFUL.  You heard me: THANKFUL!  

 

No I do not have mush between the ears.  We should be grateful for difficult people because they help us grow and mature and they provide us with ministry opportunities to share the LOVE of Christ!  Re-read today's Scripture...we are to return evil with good.  We are to pray for difficult people (which is difficult because difficult people tend to....well....tick us off, which is quite distracting when one is trying to pray.)  We must learn that WE are the ones who are to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and might SO THAT we can love others as ourselves...and that includes difficult people.  Be Thankful for the chance they offer us to grow.