Trying to overcome the negative in our lives can often times be challenging. We all deal with some type of adversity, for some, it's daily. We often times wonder why people do the things they do. Unfortunately, no one can really answer that question for you but that person, and their answer isn't always the truth. Sometimes they come up with an excuse or reason trying to lay the blame on you for something you did to them. They may even try to blame it on someone else. Although, the truth is, people do what they do to get a reaction out of you. Can we control the things people say and do? Absolutely not, but we can control our reaction and our response to them. We have to realize our own self worth and know who we are in God's eyes. Once you realize that then it doesn't really matter what people think of you, right? Well that is easier said than done. I know because some times these people are our family, they are friends that we've known our entire life and they are people that you never would have thought would turn their back on you. It's the people that mean the most to us that hurt us the deepest. We have all been on that path trying to turn our lives around and do better, only to have certain people constantly tearing you down. You will never make it, You will never amount to anything, You are just wasting your time they say. More times than not they will get you off track and put you right back where you started, leaving you feeling like a defeated failure. These changes for you don't have to be anything in particular, it could be making a big move, losing weight, changing jobs, going back to school, quit smoking, going to church, taking up a new hobby, making new friends, stop partying etc.
For some people change is very hard to accept and they don't like it at all. They don't like to see people move on from where they are, they don't like to see people succeed or do better for themselves. So they try to get in your head and discourage you in any way possible. Telling you lies straight from the devil himself about how you won't ever get any where. Lies that remind you of who you were and where you came from. Just because someone doesn't agree with your decision, doesn't mean it's wrong for you. They don't know what you are going through and they don't know how God is working in their life. So instead they talk bad about you or make negative comments about things that they know nothing about. It would be really nice if people would tend to their own life. When they are busy focused on God and their life then they don't have time to talk about, or gossip about someone else. It really is sad that some people put on their church face for the congregation, but in their personal life they are consistently messy and slanderous. They shout from the rooftops and pat themselves on the back for their own accomplishments of "private bible study" or their service is ministry. When the only One that matters already knows what they are doing. He also knows their heart. When you serve God be it in your personal time or in a public setting, you should only be focused on the approval of God and not the approval of man. It is rather hypercritical to praise yourself for deeds that you have done when you are only doing them for public recognition. If these people are in fact being true to God and walking out a genuine Christian love for others then they would not spread slanderous things about others. They would not encourage drama and they would mind their own business when it doesn't concern them. No one person is perfect we are simply forgiven and we all will make mistakes, but when people constantly cause friction in the lives of others, have they really changed? Are they being a true christian? Are they being like minded with Christ? These are the people that you really should try to avoid in your life. Unfortunately, the church is so full of people like this that are hypocritical and judgmental that is can be discouraging. You are trying to start over and start a new life for yourself only to have people look down on you with their self righteousness.
So I encourage you today to just try to look past these people. Surround yourself with people that will care about and love you through prayer. They will pray for the same guidance and confirmation that you have been praying for, instead of causing turmoil and drama. Just remember that God can open doors that no one can close and He can pour favor out on every area of your life. Sometimes He may even have to remove you from where you are and take you away from the negativity that surrounds you. It's not running, it's taking a step of faith and walking out a path that God has set before you. So for your negative Nellie's and naysayers ... just because they don't agree with what you are doing doesn't mean it is the wrong decision for you. A very dear friend of mine shared these words with me and I genuinely believe them with all my heart "If it's God appointed, there ain't a demon in hell that can stop it". So, say farewell to anything and everything that is holding you back and take that step of faith into the arms of God.
Don't be mislead: "Bad company corrupts good character."
1 Corinthians 15:33
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