When I remained with toxic family who claimed to be Christian but acted mean and superior I was constantly stressed even if they didn't know it. I was calm on the outside but tense on the inside. After I made the decision to avoid them the peace came back, no more stress.
Proverbs 22:24-25 " 24 Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man, 25 or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.…"
When I was with these people on holidays or for visits in crowds I was tempted to lash out but did not. Thankfully the Lord kept me silent. The devil uses those who are hateful to attack our human nature hoping we will respond as they do, to be able to draw us into a fight. Strangely they see our anger as absolving them of their attacks, as though the attacks were justified because their attacks provoked us.
Its a sort of "see how you are, your just like me, no better than me." But they will never say this, they believe we are better that's why they want to make us fall. We don't act as though we are better but because we do not engage they somehow know the Holy Spirit is our strength.
I noticed that when I didn't answer them they stopped. Only one continued to poke at me hoping to goad me into a fight. The more I ignored him the more he goaded, but he eventually gave up because he was the only one who looked bad. After that he didn't do it anymore but began the gossip campaign against me.
"When they can't control you they will attempt to control how others see you." This is a quote I read somewhere, I don't know who wrote it but it is exactly right.
I thank the Lord for His strength to remain calm. I believe God removed from me the desire to win or prove anyone wrong. I knew God was watching all of it so I didn't need to defend myself.
Psalm 31:23
O love the Lord, all you His godly ones!
The Lord preserves the faithful
And fully recompenses the proud doer.
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