Challenges in My Workplace Matters - The Summary

Here are some quotes from yesterday's part 4 message.

The number 1 source of stress in the workplace is difficult people.

Difficult people are as reliable as death and taxes. They are always going to be there. In fact, you can’t even go to church to avoid difficult people.

Westlife Church is not a collection of saints and perfect people. Westlife is a hospital for difficult people. We are recovering difficult people. That’s why we are here. We are just trying to do better. We are a community of real people and we are a real community.

I found that real community is the place where the person you would least like to be there, is always there. That’s real community.

Not only is it impossible to avoid difficult people, but, you may find this hard to swallow, but God intentionally places difficult people in your life.

Why would God place me and you around difficult people? Here are 3 reasons:
1. To alert you to the same problem in your own life.
2. To reveal your character.
3. To produce Godly character in you.


5 steps to dealing with difficult people:
1. control your tongue,
2. respond with kindness,
3. avoid a destructive argument.
4. resolve conflict quickly
5. love unconditionally

To love those people who are difficult requires something that John Ortberg calls “double vision” - the ability to see people as God sees people.

I John 4:11, “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.”

We are to love people “as is”..... “just as” God loves us.