Dealing With Difficult People

Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. (Acts 13:18)

• Today let us reflect on how our loving heavenly Father provides for His rebellious children.
  
  
• The Israelites grumbled and rebelled against God throughout the exodus. They constantly murmured and disobeyed Him even though they saw all the miracles. They had crossed the Red Sea and saw the Egyptians drown within it. They had eaten manna, drank water from the rock, and caught the quail God provided. But they never stopped complaining about food and drink all through the exodus.



• God was angry with the Israelites for not trusting Him, and for constantly sinning and rebelling against Him. But He put up with their ways in the wilderness for 40 years. He patiently bore with them. He provided for their needs despite their ungrateful response. He continued to lead them and watched over them. Despite their stubbornness and obstinacy, He treated them with grace and mercy at all times.



• Some people may not react favorably to our efforts to show care and concern. They may grumble and complain against us. When this happens, let us remember that God is patient with us, and He has given us His Spirit to help us respond with love to those who are hard to love or who are ungrateful.



• May God give us patience for anyone in our lives who is difficult to love; may He help us to sweetly bear whatever comes our way; and may He help us patiently endures the wrongs that come from our enemy or friend.



• Oh! It is never easy to deal with a difficult person. But let us be as patient with others as God has been with us.