I haven't been working for a super long time, only about eight years or so. But I've held a variety of jobs as a teacher, barista, librarian, cosmetologist, tutor, etc. In my different fields, I've learned that working with an assortment of people means that you will be laboring with a plethora of personalities. This means that most of us have had to deal with some very difficult people at the job.
There are people who will dislike you for just being you, people who don't do their fair share of the work, people who love to gossip, people who are disrespectful, and everyone in between. When dealing with difficult people, it's easy to just become difficult right back. But, as Christians, we are called to a higher standard. We are called to live righteously.
Below are some times on how to deal with difficult co-workers:
1. Turn the other cheek. This is probably one of the hardest commandments, but Jesus calls us to refrain from retaliating when being attacked or insulted (See Matthew 5:38-40). This does not mean be a pushover or let someone disrespect you. Nevertheless, I think about Jesus being lead to the cross and how he could have said and did so much, but he held his tongue (See Isaiah 53:7). He provides the perfect example on how to behave towards haters.
2. Bless those who curse you. In the beautides, Jesus provides a clear example on what to do with those who are not kind towards you: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matthew 5:44
I had a coworker who I knew was talking behind my backs and my Christian-based beliefs. My first reaction was to be angry and tell her a piece of my mind, but I felt God telling me to be kind to her despite what I was feeling. So, all I could do was smile at her when I passed her in the hallway. I know it wasn't much, but it took a lot out of me, and I hope I was able to display the love of Christ within me.
3. Lift them up. Pray, pray, and pray some more. If I can be completely honest here, there are some co-workers I wished I could hate. But it's awfully hard to hate someone when you're pleading the blood of Jesus over them and praying for his will to be done in their life. When you pray sincere prayers for people, it helps to change the position of your heart.
Sometimes the people we seem to be fighting against are actually spirits working within them (See Ephesians 6:12). The truth is that on our own, we are no match for the demons in hell. We need to ask for God's strength to meet us in our weaknesses (See 2 Corinthians 12:9). Before we even try to approach people with a nasty spirit, we need to be in prayer and filled with God's Holy Spirit.
Also, some of us enter and work at demonic heavy places. I certainly know this from working at a high school. Before I would even go to work, I would get prayed up and anoint myself and my classroom because sometimes you really don't know what/who you might approach that day.
The only way we can bring down strongholds or deal with difficult people is through the power of God and tapping into prayer that binds all our weapons of warfare together (See Ephesians 6).
I still truly believe that God will go before us on our difficult workplaces if we ask him.
Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6
So, go to work, do your job as if you're working for the Lord (See Colossians 3:23), keep your head high, and be a light and witness for God. He knows what you're going through, and he cares.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10
when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a stronger tower from the enemy. Psalm 61:2-3.
Blessings :)
Courtney
