Seek The Back Story As You Endure Difficult Relationships

Ephesians 6:12; I Corinthians 13:7

Practice patience and endurance with challenging people; once you know their 'back story' it can help you go the distance

Soul Food

Ephesians 6:12

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

I Corinthians 13:7

“It (Love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Soul Search

• Can you recall a time in your life when you ‘lost it’ because you were on-edge and stressed out?
  Can you talk about it?

• Can you remember a time when you were with someone you knew and they were not themselves and they exhibited startling or troubling behavior?
  If so, did you know at the time why they weren’t themselves or did you find out later why they were acting the way they did?

• Are you self-aware enough to know - in the moments when you are stressed out and anxious about something – why you are exhibiting unusual, ‘out of character’ behavior?
  If so, what do you do about it?

• Are you someone who is bold enough to ask someone difficult questions in order to find out the ‘back story’ to their behavior?
  What might you do to gain the boldness and courage to get the back story?

Soul Moves

• If you’re not a very self-aware individual, ask God in prayer (just talking to Him like you would as if you are talking to your best friend) to help you be more aware of yourself and to help you understand why you’re thinking and feeling the way you do.

• Whether it’s you or it’s someone you know, when there is a ‘melt-down’ or out-of-character behavior being shown, ask God to help you see and understand the ‘back-story’ that is triggering the unusual behavior.

• When there is a back-story that triggers stressful or anxiety-ridden behavior, then you have an indication that there is hurt and brokenness that needs to be addressed.
  Ask God to show you the root of that pain and hurt so that it can be dealt with and ultimately, healed.

• Ask God to give you strength and courage by His Holy Spirit to withstand and endure sometimes ugly and unsettling behavior that would want to cause you to simply run away from the person demonstrating that kind of behavior.
  Ask God to give you staying power so that you can bring help and healing to that person.