When Not Everyone Likes You

Some people will not like you.
Not because you did something wrong.
Not because you failed them.

They simply won’t.

Scripture calls us toward peace.
Toward seeking favor.
Toward lives marked by humility and grace.

That calling deserves care.

When I was younger, if someone didn’t like me, I took it hard.
Harder than I should have.

I replayed conversations.
Questioned motives.
Sometimes even obsessed over what I could have said or done differently.

With age, I’ve learned to slow that spiral.
To be more reflective than reactive.
To examine my own heart first before assuming the problem lived entirely outside of me.

I’ve also learned this.
I’ve learned that you rarely build anything meaningful without ruffling a few feathers along the way.

I still want to listen well.
Speak gently.
Leave room for others, even when I disagree.

But seeking favor is not the same as chasing approval.

You can walk wisely
and still be misunderstood.
Lead with kindness
and still be resisted.

Jesus loved perfectly.
Spoke truthfully.
Served without condition.

And some walked away.

Not every offense is a failure of love.
Not every closed door means you missed the mark.

There is a line we walk
between being unkind
and being uncompromising.

I am learning to check my posture first.
My tone.
My heart.

And when conscience is clear,
to stand without resentment
when agreement never comes.

Seek peace.
Seek favor.
Lead with grace.

And still accept this truth.
Not everyone will like you.
And that alone does not mean you are wrong.

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#FirstLightwithNate #Faith #Leadership #Wisdom #Grace