Loving Difficult People

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

—Matthew 5:44

DEVO

Let’s be honest—some people just aren’t easy to love.
They poke. They provoke. They manipulate. They reject. They drain your energy and test your grace. Some leave wounds that still haven’t fully healed.

And yet… Jesus calls you to love them.

Not with the world’s watered-down idea of tolerance, but with the cross-bearing, Spirit-filled, Christ-reflecting kind of love that says, “I’m choosing to treat you better than you deserve, because that’s exactly what God did for me.”

When Jesus said, “Love your enemies,” He wasn’t giving us a suggestion. He was showing us the deepest evidence of a transformed heart. Anyone can love the lovable. But it takes the Holy Spirit of God to love the one who hurt you. The one who mocks your faith. The one who triggers your trauma.

And here’s the truth:
Loving difficult people doesn’t mean you let them abuse you. It means you refuse to let bitterness become you. You forgive. You bless. You walk in the freedom Christ died to give you.

You don’t love them because they’ve earned it. You love them because He is worthy.

This kind of love?
It doesn’t come from you. It flows from Him. It's Supernatural.

STUDY POINTS:

1. Jesus modeled it perfectly:

   “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
   Even while bleeding on the cross, Jesus loved the ones who crucified Him.

2. True love isn’t reactive—it’s rooted:

   “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy… does not behave rudely, does not seek its own… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)
   The love God calls you to walk in endures, even when it’s hard.

3. Loving the difficult proves who you belong to:

   “But love your enemies… and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” (Luke 6:35)
   This isn’t just a command—it’s your identity.

4. The Holy Spirit empowers this kind of love:

   “But the fruit of the Spirit is love…” (Galatians 5:22)
   You can’t fake this. But you can yield to it.

INTROSPECTIVE QUESTIONS:

1. Who in your life is hardest for you to love right now—and why?

2. How have you been trying to love them in your own strength instead of God's?

3. Is there someone you’ve written off because of repeated hurt?

4. What would it look like to show love without opening the door to abuse?

5. What’s one way you can act in love toward that person today—no matter how small?

PRAYER:

Abba Father,
You loved me when I was still Your enemy. You gave me mercy when I gave You rebellion. You chased me when I was running. Now, I ask You to pour Your supernatural love into my heart. Help me to love those I find difficult, not by my power, but by Your Holy Spirit. I release bitterness, judgment, and revenge into Your hands. Make me more like Jesus—full of truth and love. Help me walk in mercy, boundaries, and peace.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

TODAY'S GOAL:

Ask God to show you one difficult person to love today—and act.
It could be a kind word, a silent prayer, a decision to forgive, or the strength to bless instead of curse.

You’ll never regret reflecting Jesus.