Kindness comes with a Price
I can sympathize with people who have gone through this:
It makes when you see people, really see people difficult to believe and accept.
It can make things majorly uncomfortable.
It can also make it difficult to be KIND.
(Eph. 4:32) “Be Kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.”
(1Cor. 13:4) “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
Kind / Meekness is Not a weakness
Kindness is operating in the Spirit of the Lord.
You may ask what you are talking about. I’m speaking of the struggle with seeing people and their idiocrasies.
When people fall short of our expectations. Thus, leaving us in a space of hurt, pain, disappointment, despair, confusion, or alone.
When that one person who you trusted thought they would be different, disappoints you.
Remember:
We are God’s children who can change at any given moment. Another important reality is that God can help us to handle the differences we have noticed in a person and get us through the transitions.
He will come alongside us and carry us through the uncomfortable situations. He can carry us through the ups and downs of others and help us to remain stable.
“Therefore, my beloved be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”(1 Cor 3:12)
Not for people to walk over you or take you for granted. God wants us to “clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
(Col 3:12)
Certainly, this will not be easy.
Prayerfully, it is a learning experience on how to handle difficult people and challenging circumstances. While building characteristics of Jesus.
Prayerfully, the word of God will be revealed in Romans 8:28, “And, we know all things are working together for the good of them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Prayerfully, God will get the Glory out it all. “For it is (not your strength, but it is) God who is effectively at work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.” (Phil 2:13)
Steps to accepting people right where they are:
Give up the right to be right. Meaning, be okay with being right and not having to prove it or show others you are right.
Be good with apologizing to diffuse not because you are wrong. But, to squash the animosity, stress, strain, and the enemy of consistently have a foothold. “And do not give the devil a foothold” (Eph 4:27)
Avoid confrontation for the sake of confrontation. If you know someone enjoys arguing, disputes, disagreements, fussiness: stay clear of this person at all cost.
Remain connected to the vine. “Stay connected to the vine and I will stay connected to you. No branch can produce fruit alone. It must stay connected to the vine, It is the same with you. You cannot produce fruit alone, You must stay connected to the vine.” (John 15:4)”
Be led and very sensitive to the Holy Spirit on the inside of you. Lean in to hear His voice and nudge. “So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. “There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!” (Romans 8:14)
Pray this with me:
Jesus, please help me navigate these waters. I need your guidance on handling difficult people. If you don’t see fit to move them or me then I really need your presence to be evident in my life while around these situations, help me to not cause any confusion or be pulled into things that are not a part of you. I need you to help me guard my eye gates, ear gates and my mouth gate. So, that I will do what pleases you. Let Kindness be the “law of my lips” no matter what I encounter.
In Jesus, name. Amen
