"When you finally learn that a person's behavior has more to do with their internal struggle than it ever did with you, you learn grace." I saw that several times, recently, on social media. I thought it was odd to keep seeing it but then I thought - we all have that in common. We all have known someone who was not or is not nice to us.
I am reminded of the hurt you go through when someone mistreats you. You may experience sadness, anger or both. I agree with the saying, he who angers you controls you. I have found that if I pray for that person and ask God to bless them it helps. Now I am not saying it is easy to ask God to bless someone who you do not think is nice, but it works. It feels as if God takes the anger away and almost makes you sad for that person.
How can we do this? With God's help. Matthew 5: 43-45, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.'" I find myself having to ask God, over and over, to help me have a pure heart. To help me be nice and my facial expressions look nice. And the hard one, for me, is to ask God to help me see that person through His eyes!
The Scripture goes on to step on my toes! Matthew 5: 46-48, "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." As Christians, we should be different. We should show good character. You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him. When we walk around with our feelings on our shoulders, we are not showing the love of Jesus!
Who do you need to show grace to? The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
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