Sandpaper People -- they just get on your nerves and rub you the wrong way. They are careless, over the top and out of line. And these people almost drove me to the edge today. But God has a plan. He wants me to learn something.
I realized that I don't have any power to change another person. But I do have control over my own self -- how I react, how I think and how I handle the situation.
If I look at that person as someone that I have to fix, then I already allowed that person to gain power over me. It will consume me, eat me alive and I will do nothing else but dwell on it. Such a waste of emotional energy.
What God wants me to do is to transpose this energy into patience and love. His plan for dealing with difficult characters include the use of such emotional power to cover their faults and allow for their weaknesses.
Overwhelm them with appreciation and love! (1 Thessalonians 5:13 MSG)Kinda hard, Lord, but ok. Not through my own will but by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:14 NIV)I will never ever understand God's ways but His ways are higher than mine. He has a plan. And I shall obey.
And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 MSG)And so I keep moving forward.