Playback Reference Number “52”
Dealing with Difficult People
But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Luke 6:27
In the Christian life, there are many things that are easy to say yes to. Yes, Lord. I receive that blessing! Yes, Lord. I’ll give you that burden. Yes, Lord. I’ll take that promotion. But there can be more difficult yeses like, Yes, Lord. I’ll forgive. And, Yes, Lord. I’ll pray for my enemy (or that person who is driving me crazy).
If you are dealing with a difficult person or someone you would even call an adversary or an enemy, I hope the following helps you say yes, to doing spiritual battle God’s way. In 2nd Timothy 2:25-26, Paul tells Timothy to gently instruct those who oppose him. . .
“ . . . . that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil . . . ”
The word “devil” in this sentence reminds us that things are often not as they seem because there is a spiritual realm we must discern, and that people can be taken captive by the devil to do his will. Ephesians 6:12 reads “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Is it time to get your eyes off the one you see as your adversary and identify your real Adversary? Moving your gaze from flesh and blood to evil powers and forces you can’t see in the spiritual realm can transform you from a blamer and finger pointer aimed at the wrong target to a righteous prayer who does battle for Christ. When life throws us a difficult relationship, it’s easy to focus solely on the person who seems to be causing our problems. But if we want to do spiritual battle for Christ and foil the devil’s scheme to stir up trouble, isn’t the superior alternative to say Y-E-S to prayer? What if we turn the tables on Satan and come against him for the benefit and freedom of the difficult person in our lives? One of my Facebook friends said it best, “Note to self: My adversary is in need of my prayers for deliverance, [they are not in need of] my anger, bitterness, and resentment.”
Matthew 5:44-45 reads, but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Pray: “Lord, give me the wisdom to remember that things are not as they appear, that I am doing battle against dark forces I can’t see. Help me remember to pray for my enemies and for the difficult people in my life. Amen.”
Application: If you are dealing with a difficult person in your life, pray for them right now and ask God to bless them.
Related Readings: Ephesians 4:32; Acts 7:60; Luke 6:27-36
