EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:
“Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” ( 1 Timothy 4:12)
How many of us have punished another by using tactics to get our way, maybe even the silent treatment or opposite, yelling.
Think about the roles being reversed and if it were you receiving a harmful attitude or even total silence when you really want resolve, or someone shouting at you because they are out of control- it’s very difficult to understand or reason with someone who inflicts pain in a disagreement.
How do we know what’s bothering someone inside unless we calmly talk about it? Maybe pause to “think and pray.” Think about the person you are affecting on the other end and their emotional needs as well. Pray and ask God for direction. When I am tempted to hurt someone with any type of behavior that isn’t loving or pure in my actions or if I’m not honoring God, I try to give it to God right away and tell Him I need His help to show another “love,” even in an ugly situation as 1 Timothy 4:12 states.
Hurt people hurt people with punishment. Two wrongs in a situation need to be taken to God to make something right.
It’s not our place to seek revenge in volatile situations.
If you want to make a point or have a positive effect on someone else’s life, think before you close up on them or react harshly. Ask God for the maturity, self-control, and wisdom it takes in the moment of aggravation to address the core issue without becoming silent or harsh. It takes maturity and strength. Silence and nastiness will only harm a relationship.
Remember, God instructs us to be an example to everyone. Think about it and pray for a moment before reacting when emotions get hot. The emotional needs of others may depend on your behavior in times like these. This may be the example they get to see of Jesus being the guide of our lives.