Difficult People (Part 5)

Difficult People (Part 5)

Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end."

You have to practice becoming aware of your feelings and needs.  You know the times and circumstances when you’re resentful of fulfilling someone else’s needs.  Gradually build boundaries by saying "No" to gratuitous requests that cause a resentful spirit in you. God made everything beautiful, but the ugliness of sin causes bitterness, resentment, and hatred.

It's hard at first to say "No" because it may feel a bit selfish.  Yet, if you’ve ever flown on a plane, you know that the flight attendants instruct passengers to put on their own oxygen masks before tending to others, even their own children.  Why?  Because you cannot help others if you’re incapacitated. We are admonished in the Word to not "be weary in well doing." Pardon my grammar, but that ain't easy to do when you're mentally, spiritually, and physically exhausted. You're the only one that understands that about yourself and you have to realize your strengths and weakness before you can assist anyone else. 

In the long run, proactively establishing and enforcing healthy and reasonable boundaries with difficult people will be one of the most profitable things you can do for yourself and those you care about.  These boundaries will foster and preserve the best of you, so you can share the best of yourself with the people who matter most, not just the difficult ones who try to keep you tied up.

If you're tired, stay away from difficult people. If you're spiritually dry, don't let them drain the rest of your energy. Understand that God has the answers and keep your mouth closed. If He can lock the jaws of lions, so can He help you to keep silent when you don't want confrontation.