Getting Over When Someone Hurts You | In 5 Minutes

Have you ever been in a relationship where the other person did or said something that gets under your skin and really hurts you? It might have been a small thing like interrupting or being way too competitive, or it could’ve been a major offense with long-lasting effects. No matter how well-intentioned, well-rounded, loving, or mature, humans are going to do things that bug, hurt, or bother you. So what if you made allowances for these types of behaviors similar to making a financial budget, and within that plan you make a fund for small, unexpected things? While this makes sense for your finances, we rarely consider it in relationships. Take a look at these simple steps that will help you make allowances for others. The first thing to do is accept that people are imperfect. Oftentimes, our relational frustrations stem from unmet expectations. Part of building an allowance means having realistic expectations. This allows us to offer forgiveness ahead of time rather than being blind-sided. Second, when you feel a “rub” from someone, ask Jesus to help you see that person as he sees them. Point number three is to seek to understand. When we don’t understand, we tend to react to our inaccurate perception of the other person’s motives rather than reality. We need to protect the relationship and allow for growth rather than exploit its weaknesses. Lastly, respond differently with love. Rather than being annoyed at the other person, you see them through the lens of empathy and compassion allowing you to pursue real friendship and express true care for that person. We have the unique ability to prepare for these moments in advance by developing a relational budget that includes a grace fund and pre-forgiveness for those things that will inevitably come up. The bottom line is that we can build healthy lasting relationships if we choose to make allowances for one another!

References:
Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) - Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.