How To Handle Difficult People

How do you handle difficult people? In the real time, hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, a lot of things are coming at us. I hear a lot of sermons about this topic, so how we handle difficult people is truly a concern that affects the Church today.

Simply? Be ready. Be proactive in "peacetime" for the "war" that comes through difficult people. Predetermine NOW how you will respond and interact with those who are difficult. We, the Church, represent Jesus to the rest of the world, so this is a very serious subject.

Treat all people like Jesus did with love and compassion. Love them even when it is not received or they don't want you to. Be consistent with how you treat everyone and then when difficult people come around, you will be treating them like you do everyone else. 

You might say, "Ok Jeffrey, how do I do that?"

Here you go:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

[4] Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

This is how love acts. So write this down, memorize it, and then go out and treat everyone just like this. That's how we decide how to treat everyone. No matter what. Act this way and it will never fail because "love never fails." 

Romans 13:10 simplifies these specifics:

[10] Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 

Love does no harm to anyone at any given time. No matter how they treat you. Even when they are difficult, we do no harm to people with our words or actions ever. No matter what. 

Look at Jesus. That's exactly the way He lived His life. We are "in Christ," so we can live the same way He did. Plus, the Holy Spirit living inside us enables us to do this.

So, how do we handle difficult people? With "love," which is those actions listed above. We treat everyone the same with the same mercy, grace, empathy, and love that God gives us everyday.

Grace is the biggest one for handling difficult people. Show them undeserved or unearned favor because they haven't done anything to earn or deserve your good treatment of them. Give it to them anyway because God gives us His grace. Then do so by showing them the attributes of love written above in I. Corinthians. Be all those things to all people no matter what and never do harm to anyone. 

That's how we handle difficult people or anyone for that matter. Just like Jesus did.

Please share with others.

Love you all dear readers,

Jeffrey Post