Peace family, do you ever have people in your life who just seem to dislike you? On the other hand, do you have any people in your life who get under your skin?
I’ve been convicted of a need to pray more for the people I care about, but also, for whatever reason, right now I happen to be in a place where there are certain people in my life who I feel are really annoyed and irritated by my personality. Meanwhile, there are also people who have started to grate on me the wrong way. Often, these are the same people! In situations like this, where we don’t know how to fix it or make it better, it can be very difficult and discouraging to try to figure out what to do. Peace family, what can we do when we don’t know what else to do? We can pray!
I once heard a teaching about “sandpaper people”; these are people who rub us the wrong way, but God can use them to refine and soften our hearts, and to bring us closer to himself. He can enhance our understanding of forgiveness and grace, as well as teach us things that he wants to change in us. He will use the unpleasantness and pain towards our greatest good. I want to encourage you today, to start praying regularly for the people whom you feel dislike you, as well as the people who irritate you. Let’s not lose hope, and let’s keep our eyes open for the ways that God is moving in our situations. Hebrews 13:6 (ESV) says, “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'” Memorize that, and remember it, Peace family!
Be encouraged, Peace Family. You aren’t alone in feeling this way, and God is more powerful than anything, and anyone!
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