The Unanticipated Argument

You didn't expect someone to come to you with an explosive outburst!  You lost your cool.  "Who did this person think he or she was talking to?  Why I never...?", you thought.

But it happens to those with or without a faith, the person with a chip on his or her shoulder is going to rant.  He or she may be a fellow believer or not.  Sometimes we falsely assume that because someone attends church, reads the Bible and does other spiritual things that he or she should act this way and that way.  However, we forget that God tells us in his word about man's deceitful heart.  He shares with us the many sins of men and women and provides numerous examples.  So why act shocked when you or they act out of character?

When we get into arguments with others, we have to remind ourselves to pray more and stay out of other people's quarrels when we can.  God never wanted us to put ourselves in positions where we are people's punching bags.  However, he didn't want us to act like fools right along with them either.

Find the time to apologize when you can.  Do prepare yourself for any future confrontations by paying closer attention to mannerisms of others when they are in your presence.  Remove yourself from the scene when you see the conversation is starting to heat up and there seems to be no resolve on a matter.  And most of all, remember to pray throughout the day whenever you have a moment.

I recall a young woman who often awoke on the wrong side of the bed show up to work each day in a department that I worked.  She found it amusing to talk about all of us from what we did to our hair to how we dressed.  In time, reports were circulated that this young woman was known for causing all sorts of problems and that she was at risk of being fired.  As much as I wanted to confront her on her wrongs, the Lord permitted me to say nothing, not even a "Hello."  I realized that silence kept the trouble-maker at bay.  Had I opened the door for small talk, eventually I would have said something that I would have later regretted.  God is good! (Update: the trouble making woman ended up being dealt with by her superior).

Peace be with you and those you love!

Nicholl