“They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.” (1 Peter 4:4 NIV)
When you come to faith and choose to live in honor of God, it can bring major changes. Those affect not only you, but also the people around you. Friends may not understand why you no longer join in at their wild parties. Family members may struggle with your new choices, for example regarding alcohol use. Colleagues sometimes react with surprise or even disapproval to your different way of living. That can be painful and create tension in relationships.
It is understandable that people need time to adjust to your changed lifestyle. Therefore, it is important to treat them with patience and love. In this way, relationships can be preserved, and others may sense something of God’s love and light through you. Still, some people will react negatively precisely because they don’t want anything to do with God. Jesus says about this: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.” (Matthew 5:11 NIV) At its deepest level, this slander is not directed at you, but at the God you desire to follow.
Do you experience resistance or misunderstanding from the people around you? How do you notice it, and how do you deal with it?