If you would like to extend this over a week, you can easily do one of the points each day of your devotion.  Here is a printable version.

Romans 12:17-18 - Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (NLT)

Summarization of how to deal with the difficult people in our lives: These include people who are (1) demanding; (2) disapproving and always critical; (3) talking and arguing relentlessly; (4) erupting in anger unpredictably; (5) getting hurt easily because they are discontented and touchy; and (6) demeaning and insulting. Through this discussion we’ll see that God wants us to refuse to let these difficult people offend us, and wants us to respond by taking the higher ground and being kinder, more loving, and more respectful.

Open your group with prayer.

How to deal with difficult people:

Proverbs 12:16 - When a fool is annoyed, he quickly lets it be known. Wise people will ignore an insult. (TEV)

Question: How does God describe the contrast between a foolish person and a wise person in Proverbs 12:16?
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Proverbs 10:12 - Love overlooks the wrongs that others do. (CEV)

According to this verse, overlooking wrongs that others do is an act of love. This is likely the opposite of our initial feelings toward being wronged.

Question: What are some methods we can use to keep ourselves from being offended when a difficult person tries to insult us?
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Our Spiritual maturity evolves through becoming like Christ in character. Refusing to be offended is an act of love and an example of taking the higher ground when insulted. How we treat a difficult person who insults us is what really matters to God.

Question: What attitude and considerations do we need to adopt to overcome the tendency to take difficult peoples’ insults personally?
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Make a commitment to be prepared for any difficult person you may encounter in the coming week, and practice a change in attitude by showing them grace instead of anger.

Romans 12:14 - Ask God to bless those who persecute you – yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. (TEV)

The people who “persecute” you are in your life.

Question: What is your first reaction when you read these instructions from Paul to the church in Rome? Who benefits when we follow this advice, and why?
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You can never control other people, but you always have full control over how you react to them.

Question: Why would God want us to avoid being manipulated by others, and not let other people control us? What examples did Jesus provide regarding this?
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Romans 12:21 - Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NIV)

Question: Discuss why real love means loving unlovable people in our lives. What did Jesus show us about this?
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Galatians 5:1 - We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So stand strong. Do not change and go back into the slavery of the law. (NCV)

God’s people are to be meek, but “meekness” means having strength under control, not “weakness.”

Question: What is this slavery that Jesus has set us free from? How does giving in to difficult people keep us from enjoying the freedom God intended for us?
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