In this article by Dani Johnson, she discusses some Biblical approaches to keeping relationships. Whether you follow the Christian faith or not, the way that you respond to people is one of the habits that you build up over time. Learn to react to people in a positive manner.
Have you ever been in the midst of a bad situation and ended up responding the wrong way?
Looking back, did you wish you handled it better? We have all been in situations like that. I'm not sure if you've noticed or not. but there is a lot of hostility in the world today.
I'm sure someone has stolen from you, treated you badly, lied about you or used you and then thrown you away like yesterday's trash. In my life, I know I've experienced similar hurt again and again.
On occasion, I'm here to enlighten you with the fact that certain things don't have to be a part of your life. Unfortunately, in this case, I can't. Hurt really IS a part of life. People will hurt you. They will mess up, take offense, lash out or reenact some childhood trauma... all directed straight to YOU! And there is nothing you or I can do to change that. You can't control people!
However, there is one thing you can control: your response to others. Reacting, overreacting or letting it fester are not the best means of response. If this is your method of coping with hurt and offense, trust me, you need a new one! Repeating the cycle of offense only intensifies each time you are provoked.
I always search for a Biblical strategy because that book has guided me through the darkest moments of my life. There are a few scriptures in Proverbs I want to share with you. "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute." (Proverbs 15:18)
Our culture is excessively hot-tempered, to the point where hot-tempered has become the norm. But if you can stay in control of your anger, you have the power to CALM a dispute! Allowing yourself to be provoked will just add to fuel to that hot-burning fire.
But my favorite verse is in the next chapter, "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city." (Proverbs 16:32) If you can rule your spirit, you have the power to capture a city. More importantly, no one should have that kind of power over you.
Showing anger shows that someone else is ruling your spirit. It is through Him and with Him you can and will be slow to anger, gracious and compassionate. Without Him, you will continue repeating the same thing over and over again, all while expecting people to treat you differently.
