Loving People Who Are Hard-to-Love - iBelieve Truth - July 11, 2023

Loving the Hard-To-Love
By Megan Evans

“Above all, maintain constant love for one another since love covers a multitude of sins.” - 1 Peter 4:8 CSB

Have you ever tried to ignore the maintenance light that pops up while driving your automobile? It's tempting for sure, but this strategy never ends well. While stopping to fill up with gas or putting air in the tires is inconvenient, avoidance can have devastating consequences. Sometimes we even need to take things a step further to have the engine repaired or broken parts replaced. It's never fun and often costly, but worth it when we find ourselves back on the road with our minds at ease and once again driving safely. Maintenance is vital for all things with moving parts, including our relationships. 

Even the best relationships are sometimes challenging; like our automobiles, we are wise to take good care of them. This includes the hard-to-love! Most every day of our lives, you and I will deal with irritating behaviors, wrongs, hurts, flaws, and offenses, but we don't have to let it get the best of us or our relationships. Instead, God calls us to love one another. But how? 1 Peter 4:8 is a tangible example and gives us insight into how we can get along with others--the key here is constant maintenance. Above all, maintain constant love for one another since love covers a multitude of sins. We also find these words in Proverbs 10:12, which says, 

"Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses." 

This covering comes from the Hebrew word, kasah, and implies something clothed or concealed. What a difference it makes when we envelop our relationships with God's love. It is hard to focus on offenses when all we can see is Jesus. Relationships include those we love dearly, people we barely know, and maybe even a few people we wish we didn't know. These interactions are part of daily life; the Bible leaves nothing amiss to help us live it out. For example, John 13:34 tells us to love one another, Leviticus 19:18 tells us to love our neighbors, and Luke 6:35 even tells us to love our enemies. Thankfully, God also helps us to obey His commands.  

Love doesn't come naturally for mankind in this fallen world. We will soon run out of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. However, as we seek the Lord and let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts, we will begin to bear His fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). We need these qualities to foster and maintain relationships. Daily, God will give us the strength and ability to love, show compassion, and forgive through His power.

Frustrations and feelings are natural human reactions but not always true assessments. Instead, they are more like indicator lights that warn us when our heart needs maintenance. When we encounter hard-to-love people, we are wise to go straight to Jesus and let Him repair and replace things like anger and bitterness with His perfect covering of love. Hostility not only harms others, but it harms us as well! Loving others isn't just about following a set of rules; God wants us to experience the peace and joy that His love brings. As it says in Proverbs 12:20, 

"…those who promote peace have joy." 

If we want to maintain relationships, we must seek the Lord. Prayer is a powerful tool against the enemy who desires only strife and destruction among people. God will help us! Surrender all the moving parts of each struggling relationship to Jesus, and watch His love fill your heart. Who is hard to love today? Will you meet them at the cross and let Jesus be the bridge between your heart and his or hers? 

Father God, show me where my heart needs maintenance today. As I think upon the hard-to-love, I am reminded of your unconditional love for everyone on this earth and me. Bring to mind my relationships, actions, and words that have grieved you, Lord. Forgive me and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Grow in me a Christ-like love that readily spills out as a covering over my daily interactions with people. In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

Photo Credit: © Getty Images/kieferpix

Megan Evans is a military wife, and a mother to three wonderful teenagers. She and her family live in Tennessee where she serves as the women’s ministry director at her church. An author and blogger with a heart for discipleship; she writes, speaks, and teaches women about enjoying God in each busy day. Check out her new book, “Permission to Walk: A 40-Day Journey to Unhurried Peace” and learn the daily pace of life that Jesus taught as we daily navigate this distracted and fast-paced world. You can connect with Megan at www.unhurrymyheart.com, www.instagram.com/megan.m_evans , and www.facebook.com/unhurrymyheart.

Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith

Kerry Washington, Andrea Bocelli, Reba McEntire, Mark Wahlberg, Tony Dungy, and Matthew McConaughey—what do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their stories of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going. 

Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.