What in the World Is Going On?

I think the topic of love is so relevant in today’s world, where it seems like so few people can get along and conflict surrounds us on all sides. I believe people are more easily offended now than at any time I can recall. And in certain instances, some people appear to be looking for excuses to be offended.

Other times it can be more subtle. Someone who may not be actively engaged in conflict may find themself disagreeing with others about something and allow it to destroy a relationship.

The truth is, moral values are rapidly declining, fewer people are going to church, and integrity is something that very few people even understand. Honor and faithfulness are fading character traits. Many people are greedy, selfish, rebellious, and haters of what is good (see Romans 1:28– 31).

So, the question is, how are we supposed to truly love people in the midst of all of this?

Jesus managed to maintain both love and peace in a world where He was misunderstood, hated, and rejected (see Luke 9:22; 23:33–34; Isaiah 53:3–12). So, too, many people today seem like ticking time bombs. They may struggle with deep-seated anger. And many are at a boiling point, where if we make one tiny mistake, they’re likely to explode. But that doesn’t mean we should give up!

The simple truth is, we can’t just hide from all the people who are difficult or need to know Jesus. Our first inclination may be to run and hide, but God is calling us to be “bright lights” in a dark world (see Matthew 5:16).

I think there’s sometimes a temptation for Christians to pull away from the world and desire to not associate with unbelievers at all. Yes, it’s true that we don’t want to continually hang out with others who are involved in sin or who will be a bad influence on us. However, I like to say, “Spend time with unbelievers as long as you are influencing them and they are not influencing you.” It is time for believers in Jesus Christ to take a stand, let our lights shine, and make ourselves available to God for His use.

I believe that God has placed each one of us where we are for the express purpose of representing Him to the world around us—whether it’s a neighborhood, a school, or even your place of employment. God has His people everywhere, and Christians must stop hiding and being fearful of being rejected…and focus on sharing the goodness of Jesus Christ with others.

Do you know that one of the most powerful things you can do is just be kind to people and do kind things for them? What if you decided that every day you would do something—a random act of kindness—for someone in your life that you deem “hard to love”?

Remember, the Lord asks us to be kind, gentle, forbearing, long-suffering, and patient with others—just as our Lord is with us (see Ephesians 4:2). Because it’s God’s goodness and kindness that gets people’s attention and draws them to Him. The love of God can melt the hardest of hearts!

In the process of reaching out to others, God also does something miraculous in our own hearts. We become more patient and compassionate, and our desire to love people becomes greater than our desire to be their enemy.

Yes, the world can be messy, and people can sometimes wear us down. But there’s something greater than hate and conflict—the love of God. And each of us have the privilege of sharing it everywhere we go.

Adapted from the book Loving People Who Are Hard to Love by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2022 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer Starter:

“Lord, help me stay focused on You and Your desires. Don’t let me get distracted by all the problems in the world—the hate, strife or bitterness. But instead, help me to center on what I can do right now to truly love others—even the ones who are hard to love. Use me as a bright light everywhere I go. In Jesus’ name, amen.”