Dealing With Difficult People

Some people are so hard to deal with, aren't they? Let's face it, not everyone is pleasant. Some are obnoxious, angry, dramatic, over talkative, or overly melancholy, and the list goes on. Some people just know how to push our buttons and cause us to react when we wouldn't normally react. If we want to get right down to it, all of us can be that difficult person at times. This is why we should cut some slack to the ones we feel are difficult. 
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 4:32 - And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. This is a verse that all of us should commit to memory and embed deep into our hearts. If this verse is in our hearts, we will recall it at those times we are dealing with a difficult person. 

We need to remember that those difficult people are giving us a chance to reflect Christ. How we react and respond to them, can show forth the love of Jesus or can be an opportunity to allow Satan to use us in a destructive manner. Did you know that patience is not something that God just zaps into us? It is most often a learned trait that comes through enduring and surviving trials and allowing our mind to have peace and contentment in a situation. Usually the struggle inside us comes from fighting against what we are encountering. When we take a deep breath and accept the situation, the struggle ceases. When we are patient in dealing with a difficult person, it is because we are first and foremost forgiving them for their words or actions, whether we realize this or not. It may also be that we have been through a similar situation in the past or may come from the knowledge of understanding why the person may be acting in the difficult manner. Understanding why a person does what they do always makes them easier to tolerate. 

The fact of the matter is, some people are more difficult to deal with than others. At times, we can all be difficult in the right circumstances. We always have a choice in how we react or respond in a situation. More often than not, arguments or other situations escalate because people are reacting instead of remaining calm. They begin slinging words or objects or fists instead of listening and understanding the other person.  

This is just a thought provoker. How's your reaction with difficult people? Do you respond as a difficult person right back at them or do you do your best to reflect Christ to them? 
I'm sorry it's been quite some time since I posted. Life has been a bit chaotic with illnesses and church busyness.