How to Think When People Get on Your Nerves

The Key to Loving People Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].

1 Peter 4:8 (AMPC)

There are lots of reasons why we decide that we don’t like someone. Perhaps they have a personality type that we don’t enjoy, or maybe it’s the way they look or act. But one thing’s for certain—the way we choose to think about a person not only affects their life, but it also affects our own personal joy and happiness.

In John 13:34, Jesus instructs us to …love one another…and this includes the people we don’t necessarily like! It is very important to see people the way God sees them. I love 1 Samuel 16:7 (AMPC). It says, …For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

If we are willing, we can learn to think about people the way God thinks about them. We can recognize each person as a valuable possibility instead of a potential problem. Walking in love begins in our mind. Our thoughts, good or bad, have a tremendous impact on those around us. They show on our face, in our body language, and in our behavior toward people.

Thoughts also prepare us for action. Again, where the mind goes, the man follows! It is impossible for me to think evil thoughts about someone when I am not with them and then be kind and friendly when I see them. I might fake it, but any smart person would realize something wasn’t right.

We’re never going to like everyone we encounter, but we are called to love others to the best of our ability. And the truth is, the person whom you avoid all the time at work could be hurting and in need of your friendship or a listening ear.

I encourage you to focus on the positive. Go out of your way to believe the best and focus on the good things about people. When you do, you are loving them like Christ…and filling your own life with His peace and joy.

Prayer: “Dear God, please help me to love those in my life whom I find unlovable. Remind me that You love each and every person and help me to see those people through Your eyes. On the hardest days, when the people around me seem the most annoying or dislikable, help me to remember to pray for them, and approach them in love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Study Tip: Grab a concordance or do a simple search on the internet to find how many times in the Bible God tells us to love others. Then, take the time to write some of them down and reflect on each one. In what situations did the command occur? Who was told to love? Was it difficult for that person? Often, pondering specific examples in the Bible can help us to apply the same principles for ourselves. Once you’re done with that, decide how you can better love someone in your own life.