NOT AGAIN!
My spirits sank. I wrestled with the puzzle of what could possibly be going through my critic’s mind.
I poured out my hurt to my husband. As we talked, he gently steered my heart back toward the comfort of the scriptures. God’s Word overflows with encouragement, offering hope when I need it most.
If you have ever faced harsh criticism, you know how it can drain your spirit. I was torn between brushing off the remark or firing back in my own defence, which honestly felt more tempting.
When correction is given with the intent of guiding a person in the right direction, it is *positive criticism*. A wise Christian would receive it gladly and make amends quickly. It is pride and foolishness to reject godly advice.
For references, read: Psalm 141:5, Proverbs 10:17, Proverbs 28:23
Negative criticism, on the other hand, is a calculated strike meant to wound, to cause emotional, social, or even deeper harm.
There is nothing new about people slandering others just for the sake of mischief! It seems almost human nature to hunt for faults, point fingers, and accuse others, whether or not they deserve it.
So, we arrive at the heart of the matter: How should I, as a Christian, respond to negative criticism? Study the Book of Daniel.
Bible Reading: Daniel 6 (click to read online)
The king’s delight in Daniel sparked up envy so much so that the other governors began to seek fault and errors in his ways.
“Then the commissioners
and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel
in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or
evidence of corruption, in as much as he was faithful, and no negligence or
corruption was to be found in him“.
Daniel 6:4
1) As you move ahead in life, you will inevitably get under some people’s skin.
Will there be negative bashes?
Yes, as long as you go forward, expect them.
But what Daniel did stands out to me. Take another look at the scripture and study his response closely. Will agree with me that Daniel knew these men were after him. He had a choice to hit them back, possibly go to the king and lament over these jealous streaks.
But instead, he chose to ignore them, recognising their accusations had no foundation.
Don’t forget there must be proven grounds for any accusation to be considered legitimate.
2) There is nothing you can do to please people who deliberately pick fights and never see anything good in what you are doing.
Stop trying to please your naysayers!
He threw open his windows, just as he always did, and prayed to the Lord. Then he carried on with his day.
If your critic offers a lesson, take it to heart, learn from it, and keep moving forward.
If there is nothing to gain, move forward anyway, tuning out the distractions and noise of negativity.
3) Choose to react differently. Daniel did not chase after these men or sob halfway through the night. Not that they didn’t get to him, but he chose to react differently. Our reactions and responses are ours to choose.
Our reactions to negative remarks are purely our choice. Daniel sought God’s face instead.
He desired more than ever to please God and not his accusers.
“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he
maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him”.
Proverbs 16:7
4) Seek God’s approval above all. Make sure the Lord is guiding what you do. Reflect on your life and actions to see if you are walking in faith. If not, make things right.
Ultimately, God’s approval is worth far more than any praise from people.
“For not he that commendeth himself is
approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.“
2Corinthians 10:18
5) Let God fight your battles. When I tried to handle things myself, I only made them worse.
How could Daniel stand against men who plotted day and night to bring him down? They knew just what to say, having spent hours scheming against him.
“Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to
them that trouble you;“
2Thessalonians 1:6
6) Pray for your accusers. It is persecution to be falsely accused or wrongly judged, but Jesus requires us to pray for those who make it
their mission to find faults in us.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse
you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use
you, and persecute you;”
Matthew 5:44
7) Pray for yourself. Malicious attacks can shake you deeply, but the Lord stands with you through every storm. Do not lose heart; strengthen yourself with prayer and the Word.
- Lord, give me a teachable spirit so I can learn what I am supposed to and a gentle spirit, so I have self-control in the midst of the chaos.
- Lord Jesus, heal my heart of the brokenness and hurt that I feel
The spirit of a man will sustain his
infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Proverbs 18:14
- Help me, dear Jesus, to press on forward.
Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended: but this one thing
I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Philippians 3:13
8) Reach out to a friend. A friend’s honest rebuke is far better than an enemy’s empty praise. A wise friend will guide your heart back to the Word, walking with you in prayer and encouragement.
If you ever feel discouraged because of criticism, know that Jesus faced it too, and there is nothing they can do to hide the light of God in your life.
She has a great job and a paid chauffeur.
But, her usually happy face, well put together, is powdered, carefully layered to hide her battles with depression, staring at the possibility of a failing marriage, uncertain invisible illness, infertility, a rebellious teen, mental shutdown. This is for the woman right there in the middle of the thick grind of real life, needing real encouragement.
Click the link below if you need encouragement
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