Loving Difficult People

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I don't really have difficult people in my family, I feel lucky. My Father's siblings were difficult, I'm assuming that's why he didn't take us to see them very much. I've worked with difficult people, but because I'm pretty easy going, I ignore them. I know it's not always that easy. Depends on how many people you work with.
 
Grace-Like-Rain said:
Do you struggle with loving a difficult person in your life?

Is it a personality conflict, or something else, that makes it hard to love this person?

Do you feel that the person actually really needs love - from you?

WHY is this so hard??

How can we do better?


Matthew 5:46-47 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
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I think that we all struggle with loving people every now and then.
Like I have mentioned in another forum I have had a difficult relationship with my younger sister, who has judged me because I live my life according to what God teaches in his Holy Book. For example, I have been ridiculed for my virginity and most recently because I have yet to drink alcohol. Now I realize that nowhere in the bible does it state to refrain from alcohol consumption, but it more of a personal choice not to drink. I am not against by all means.
Anyway, I have had a difficulty with my sister because she seems to judge me and she has no room to judge, mainly because she is not living her life for God. I know that she deserves love and honestly, I also think that maybe a little more love than other people. I think it is really hard because of both of our prides and we are family. I do love my sister very much, more than she realizes, but she can really hurt me. I have been working on showing her love even though it may or may not be reciprocated. I also have been praying that she comes back to the Lord and how we were raised.

The one thing that I have always remembered is that when someone seems to be unlovable, they need our love and prayers the most.
 
Yes, I definitely have people in my life that can be difficult to love. One of the things that helps me the most is to consider all of the things from their background that has made them that way. When I do this, my compassion and grace increase.
 
I don't have a hard time loving difficult people, but I do have a hard time staying in contact with them. I would rather remove myself from the wake of their harshness. And if I cannot remove myself from them physically I do so mentally and emotionally. I think this actually goes along with the bible because it says not to be unequally yoked, and that it is better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with someone who is quarlsome.
 
I've always been told that my spiritual giftings included loving the unlovable, tolerating the intolerable. I just seem to always find myself loving on the outcasts. For the most part, I just constantly ask God to give me His eyes for people and to show me what He's doing. Otherwise, I miss stuff or try to take on too much. I try to be led by the Holy Spirit. Usually, after asking God for those things, I just go with what I feel like doing. I trust God to put His desires on my heart for people and show them to me the way that He sees them. More often than not, my perception is always slightly altered or something happens so that the need becomes apparent. :) Trust God to lead the way and let Him. :)
 
But the forum won't let you edit an existing post more than five minutes after you make it... so you'll have to make a new post after this.

Hmm... Maybe I'm one of the difficult people this thread is about. Hush Lynx. :rolleyes:
 
I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all solution for this problem. We have to strike a balance between being the 'sheep among the wolves' and being 'wise as serpents and harmless as doves'. It means that there may be some situations when we have to take extra effort to love the difficult people, but there has to be a limit to it. I would draw a line if the person explicitly tells or does something that indicates hostility towards you. I don't think you have to jeopardise yourself in order to reach out to them.

On the other hand, I am not sure how we must deal with people who appear friendly in front of you but then slander behind your back. These people are also "difficult people", but should we continue to forgive and love them even though we are aware of their actions? If so, for how long?
 
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