Question from a reader:
How do you deal with people, especially those who claim to be believers, but don’t like you? I’m currently experiencing that, and it’s very painful. What insights can you share from God’s Word?
Answer from Stephanie Anderson, EPM staff:
It’s a hard lesson to learn that sometimes no matter what you do, there will be people who don't like you—whether that’s because of personality differences, a way you’ve inadvertently offended them, etc. Here are a few resources that might help:
If Someone Doesn’t Like Me, Have I Ruined My Christian Witness?
How Do I Love Neighbors Who Ignore Me?
I love that verse John Piper shares: “When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat” (1 Corinthians 4:12–13).
In this sermon, Piper says: “Suppose that you feel anxious about opponents. There really are people who don’t like you. They hate you. They defame you. They say all kinds of evil against you falsely, and you feel anxious about these people, either physically or emotionally or affectionately or relationally. They’re going to make your life real hard. Then you go to Romans 8:31 and it says, ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ and you believe that and you trust that.”
Also, what Randy shares in this article may be of encouragement.
A wise friend reminded me that when you receive harsh criticism or feedback from someone (perhaps someone who doesn’t seem to like you), ask the Lord to use it to reveal something you might need to learn about yourself (pride, where you were wrong, etc.). Then you release it to God, and move on instead of dwelling on it. (Also see How to Welcome Criticism and Respond to It with Grace.)
