Be Patient With Those Who Disagree with You

 Be Patient With Those Who Disagree with You

Be patient with those who disagree with you. This can be difficult when we get defensive because our strong belief in something is challenged or criticized. This can be difficult when we know that we are “right.” Being patient with someone even when they are not listening or understanding us is difficult. So how did Jesus do it and why should we?

Jesus was mocked, criticized, called names- yet he is perfect. We will always have people who mock, criticize us, and call us names but to be more Christ-like all lies in how we respond. The easy emotion is frustration and anger, not understanding. Jesus was honest but his honesty was gentle and understanding. Even in anger he remained just. We can feel frustration, anger, sadness, etc. but we must handle our communication in a way that is pleasing to the Father. Slow to speak.

In the past few years I feel that the Lord has been teaching me this in a very difficult situation. I have a family member that I love dearly, but this family member is very lost. They would say they are a Christian, but their choices very clearly depict that this is not true. This family member has many different beliefs and thoughts around life. This family member has very different Biblical beliefs. Initially, I wanted to be impatient and “prove” this person wrong. I wanted to tell them all the ways that they “were indeed not acting like a Christ follower.” But the Lord stopped me. 

The Lord asked me, “would this bring (the family member) closer to me (God), or push them away from me (God)?” It was one of those “oof” moments. Loving while standing firm on Biblical truth is being Christ-like. 

When you are struggling with someone ask yourself, “Lord would my words bring this person closer to you? If the answer is no, then you have your answer, do not say it.