Stress comes in all different shapes and sizes, but whatever the cause, none of us was made to be under constant stress; and yet, that’s how many people are living: In a constant state of stress. Well, it’s time to do something about that.

One of the hardest, one of the most difficult and delicate things in life, is bringing a difficult issue in a difficult relationship to a head. When someone really matters to us, when we know we need to deal with an issue – how … how can we speak the truth in love.

Other people or things – all that stuff out there – that’s not what brings us joy. No, it’s the inner peace it’s the relationship we have with God that brings peace. And a wonderful time to cultivate that, is right in the middle of the battle. Right when the going is tough.

When you and I become a living sacrifice; when you and I say, “you know something, if I’m going to be a real Christ follower, I’ve got to look like Jesus, I’ve got to be like Jesus and some days that means I have to suffer like Jesus.”

Difficult people are everywhere in our lives. Absolutely everywhere. You just can’t get away from them. So, unless we learn how to deal with difficult people, we are never going to have peace in our lives, we are never going to have joy in our lives and we are never, ever going to be able to share the love of Christ into this world. Learning to deal effectively with difficult people, is really, really important. It’s vital.