How to deal with people that put you down??

Dealing with people who put you down can be painful and hurtful experience. Sometimes, the scars even last a lifetime.

I know I've certainly experienced put downs from people at various times throughout my life. I'm not sure it's possible to go through life not meeting one of these people somewhere along the way. It's like God putting this situation to you so that you'll be able to see Him during this moments. Funny huh? I've certainly learned a lot from these people that put me down during those times, those moments. And it was these people that got me growing, got me loving God even more, got me knowing, got me realizing how much God means to me in my life, got me understanding, got me walking even closer with Him. In another point of looking, I thank God for these people. No wonder the saying goes, "Stand up when you're stumbled down"....or better, "Stand up in Jesus name, when you're attacked"... we grow in Faith through these moments, these times, yes, we grow in Faith, we grow in Trusting Him even more, we grow in Him, we grow.

Do you know that there are people being put down in the Bible too? Joseph is one of them. He was sold by his brothers. Can you imagine it? Compare him with us now, our is NOTHING. Jesus too was put down. He was betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, left all alone by His disciples. Now, what is ours compare to His? Sometimes I wonder how did He ever get through all these?? It is His clear focus, it is His knowing, it is His grace and mercy, it is His purpose to save us that He allowed all these to happen. Don't our Father do anything?? John 3:16, "For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" Now, what can we say but WOW! God so ever love us and Jesus knew that He is to sacrifice for us. I guess Jesus have thought of changing that particular fact when He was still alive...but guess not. What must be done? Must be done. Must be accomplished. Must be finished.

Yet again the question comes back again and again and again..how to deal with people that put you down?? You like formulas? I think our life is lived in formulas. Everything has to be given in 1,2,3....A.B.C...well, here's some formulas:-

• Don't retaliate with your own putdowns.
• The comments will tell you a lot about the person who's making the comments. It's their anger and frustration and they should deal with it, not you.
• Can you discover a "gift" within those comments? You might learn something valuable about yourself that needs to be healed or you might learn how you really feel about yourself.
• Are you reading something into the comments that aren't really there because you're expecting them or because you have certain beliefs?
• Be aware of the subtle messages that you hear every day which try to destroy you sense of value and self worth.
  

Put downs are never pleasant to deal with but if you can use them to God's advantage, focusing towards Him and only Him, that's the best solution of all. In Proverbs 4:23, "Guard your heart for it is the wellsprings of life" and in Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms".

Reality: Just as we go to our daddy for comfort and strength, we also go to our Daddy God for comfort and strength. We lean on His arms, and feel His loving embrace. Psalm 112:7, "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord (AMP)"