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The Lord recently prompted me to pray for the difficult people in my life. Not so I’d be more comfortable or peaceful, but so they’d be happier. It wasn’t fun, and I made some shocking discoveries about my own faults mirrored in others.
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Then I wondered: am I a difficult person for someone else, or many others?
Is a brother or sister praying for me, because I’m a thorn in their side? Gosh.
I’ll bet you know of a difficult someone who needs your prayers today. Will you do it, just to spite the devil?
Are you sure we're not twins separated at birth? LOL!
ReplyDeleteThe Lord's also been prompting me to pray for the difficult people in my life. I think of Jesus' prayer, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
Blessings,
Susan :)
I have some "sandpaper people" in my life and I do pray for them. God has put them in my life to smooth out MY rough edges.
ReplyDeleteBlessings~
Laura
I have been in this situation. First anger kept my heart from really being 'in' those prayers but it was the act of just mentioning them that broke MINE.
ReplyDeleteI have recently gone on a fast and went into it praying for them but came out of it realizing I had been praying for my response toward them.
Prayer is an excellent start. From a management perspective, it is essential to do something in dealing with difficult folks--otherwise they can make the workplace/life difficult for everyone else.
ReplyDeleteJeanette:
ReplyDeleteI have prayed for the difficult people in my life. Sometimes, I feel they don't even act like they are prayed for.
A little over a year ago, I had to turn around and walk away from a woman who 'got in my face.' Last Saturday, I had to do it again. I pray for her family,as well. Several others know I have walked away from this woman. It's the only way I can keep myself in check.
Sometimes I retreat into avoidance of those difficult people. Praying for them is really the way to go, however. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteN-
I always pray for the difficult people that I encounter during the day, or who are in my life. We don't walk in everyone's shoes, so we don't always know what's troubling them.
ReplyDeleteOne co-worker got all upset over someone snapping at her, and I said, "don't be upset...you don't walk in that person's shoes...you don't know if they got some bad news on their health front, or a loved ones. Maybe someone they loved just passed away, or got foreclosed on their house. You never know."
I also know I can be difficult at times - just ask my hubby. We pray for each other...for patience to understand, and for anything that is hurting us.
God's always listening.
Great post!
Funny, the boys and I just had a conversation like this at the table this week. One of them was struggling with a DP. He called him sandpaper. Then he said, "I'll bet he's smoothed a looot of people." :)
ReplyDeleteI said, "Well, maybe that's his purpose." And Son said, soberly, "I wouldn't want that to be mine."
That's when we talked about the possibility that we're the sandpaper for someone else. Ouch1
Ouch is right!
ReplyDeleteYes, I've been prompted of late to pray for the people who are all "prickles and stings" as Anne Shirley calls them. My flesh does not always want to do it, but I know it is best. :) Thanks for this timely reminder!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Karen
Jeannette, you have such a beautiful spirit. You don't know the gravity of your words, and how important they are--especially to me. Thank you for this reminder. And have a blessed weekend!
ReplyDeleteHaha, yes, I do pray for difficult people. It's not easy and kind of makes me cringe, but I do it and survive! I started praying for difficult people about two years ago b/c it was a way for me to feel less offended by them, and a way to view the tough person as a human being with faults, which we all have.
ReplyDeleteGreat question, Jeannette. Everyone can relate to this one! Have a great weekend.
Thank you for the reminder. It's not easy, but it is necessary! :)
ReplyDeleteI will be glad to pray for difficult people because I know that some people find me difficult and I love it when they forgive me, even if it's just for my being me in a prickly way.
ReplyDeleteOh, come on Jeanette. You mean I might be annoying to someone? Of course, I know everyone can't be perfect like us. :P Seriously, the Lord does work that way, doesn't He?
ReplyDeleteI have several difficult people in my life. I admit, one I pray for daily--the others I haven't and I should. I cannot imagine you being difficult to anyone!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful reminder, Jeanette. I love your heart. Your words always encourage and challenge me. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMel