Secret Dislikes
If we are honest about it, in the multifaceted landscape of our relationships, there is sometimes a subtle undercurrent of dislike towards individuals that we harbor in our hearts and tend to keep concealed. We secretly dislike people for various reasons. Sometimes it’s the way they approach or handle us. Perhaps it’s how they speak to us and or they don’t understand the weight of how they deliver words when they speak. Maybe it’s their leadership style. Or maybe they are just always pessimistic in their perspective. Perhaps there is resentment in your heart and you somehow feel that what they have should belong to you.
My friends, here’s the thing. When your dislike for other people is not checked, it can quickly turn into a breeding ground for hatred. And if you’re not privy to the fact, hatred always derails your blessings before it touches the person you dislike. Don’t allow your dislike to put you at a disadvantage when it comes to receiving your blessing!
When we dislike other people, we do our best to get along with them, we keep the snarky look from our faces and we smile. We do this so that we can keep hidden how we really feel about them. But just because you keep it hidden does not mean that God does not know your heart. The scripture says it like this: “…For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Friends, it’s not the Kingdom way to take advantage of God’s grace by saying, “Well God knows my heart.” The way of the Kingdom is to align our hearts with God. King David says it like this, “Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.” When your heart is pleasing to God, that’s where you’ll see the increase, the promotion, answered prayers, and your healing break forth.
But let me be the first to admit it. It’s not always a walk in the park to not dislike someone for one reason or another. But here’s the thing, just because you dislike them now doesn’t mean you need to agree to keep your heart in that disposition forever. The kingdom way to take advantage of God’s grace is to give other people grace. I know they may have offended you, the way they talk to you is tacky, and a lot of the times they are so self-centered they can’t even realize how they come across. It is not your job, but it is to your joy to give them grace. Grace is overlooking their faults while teaching them to do better. When you teach them to do better, you are communicating to them how what they did or said made you feel. Open dialogue is the key to not harboring resentment and or unresolved issues. The scripture says it like this, If anyone offends you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.
My friends, in this life you are always going to have people who dislike you or vice versa. Don’t make it your habit to harbor resentment or bitterness towards that person. The scriptures teach us to let all bitterness, wrath, anger, and speaking evil of one another be put away from us and to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving of each other. When you are faithful and intentional about your heart being right before God, I believe God will increase you in favor with men and with God and you will not only see but experience the extraordinary grace and goodness of God!
