Difficult People

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.  (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV)

It’s a joy to be around people who live by this verse.  People who value you, see the best in you, and just love being with you.  What a wonderful, healthy atmosphere!

But, unfortunately, we all know that not everyone is kind and encouraging.  Some are passive aggressive, and others are just outright mean.  These “difficult people” are quick to point out our failures and, no matter how hard we try, we can never be quite “good enough” in their eyes.

For our physical, emotional, and spiritual health, it’s extremely important that we limit our interactions with difficult people, but sometimes we just can’t.  What do we do then?

We have to use our faith.  Faith is believing God, even when God is silent and the difficult people are loud.  In other words, whenever people are telling you that you aren’t (fill in the blank) enough, pull out your shield of faith and quench those fiery darts.

Take what God says about you, cling to it, and make it become real to you on the inside until it becomes a reality in your world.  In Christ:

You are holy and without blame before Him in love (see Ephesians 1:4 & 1 Peter 1:16)      

 

You are a joint heir with Christ (see Romans 8:17)   

 

You are an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of His testimony (see Revelation 12:11)  

 

You are part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (see 1 Peter 2:9)  

 

You are forgiven of all your sins and washed in the Blood of Jesus (see Ephesians 1:7)  

 

You are redeemed from the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty.

(see Deuteronomy 28 & Galatians 3:13) 

 

You are healed by the stripes of Jesus (see Isaiah 53:5 & 1 Peter 2:24)

 

You are greatly and dearly loved by God (see Romans 1:7, Ephesians 2:4, Colossians 3:12 and 1 Thessalonians 1:4) 

 

You are holy (see Col 3:12)

 

You are blessed and redeemed and blameless and forgiven and chosen (see Ephesians 1:3-11)

 

You are not condemned anymore for your sins. (see Romans 8:1)

 

You have eternal life in Heaven (see John 3:16)

 

You belong to God (see 1 Cor 6:20)

 

You are seated with Christ (see Ephesians 2:6)

 

You can now do all things through Him who gives you strength (see Philippians 4:13)

You’re a temple of the Living God (see 1 Cor 3:16)

 

You have the Spirit without measure (see John 3:34)

 

God’s making all things work together for your good (see Rom 8:28)

 

You are blessed in the city and blessed in the country (see Dt 28:3)

 

You are blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out (see Dt 28:6)

 

Everything you touch is blessed (see Dt 28:8)

 

You can and will overcome the devil (see Rev 12:11)

The Holy Spirit flows through you (see John 7:38)

 

You are more than a conqueror (see Rom 8:37)

 

God always causes you to triumph (see 2 Cor 2:14)

 

God always gives you the victory (see 1 Cor 15:57)

 

and no weapon that’s formed against you will ever prosper (see Isaiah 54:17)!!

 

If you’d like to immerse yourself in scripture that focuses on God’s love, His power, and His abundant blessings for you, click here for a 75-day Bible Study: "Feeling God's Love"