A survey was done in 2014 by the American Psychological Association on stress. According to the survey, the most common source of stress among adults is money. The second most common source of stress among adults is work. Maybe the stress at work for you is being caused by long work hours or unmanageable workloads or inadequate compensation. Or maybe the stress for you at work is being caused by your boss or co-workers. God’s word has something to say about job stress related to difficult people in the workplace.

Scriptures
Proverbs 12:16, 16:7, 21:23, 26:21; Matthew 5:37, 5:44, 22:15-21; Romans 12:2, 12:18; 1 Peter 3:9a; 1 John 4:8

Verse
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Thought
Those people we work with have the potential to create environments that can literally make or break us. There are five groups of people at the workplace that can cause a stressful environment whether it’s in an office, factory, retail establishment, or construction site. These groups are: demanding people, dishonest people, disagreeable people, defensive people and demeaning people. The Bible has some answers on how we can not only survive but thrive around these difficult people in the workplace.

Questions
When was the last time you worked around demanding people? When did you learn that you can’t please everybody at work? How do you deal with defensive people at work? How hard is it for you to avoid arguments at work? Do you believe your coworkers know you’re a follower of Jesus? How would they know this about you? Where was the last place you worked where a coworker sabotaged the “peace” in the office? Why do you believe Christians aren’t expected just to be doormats at work and let everyone walk on them? Do you work with any jerks? If so, how hard is it for you to love them the way God wants you to love them? When was the last time you prayed for the difficult people you work with?

Response
Review the principles we learned and evaluate where you need to improve. The principles are: #1 Realize you can’t please everybody. #2 Refuse to retaliate. #3 Don’t argue. #4 Don’t cave in. #5 Respond with love.

Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, I need your help to be the best employee I can be in spite of the difficult people I work with. I want them to see Jesus in me and I know that I must live before them in such a way as not to bring disgrace or reproach to Him. Help me to not retaliate or insult or try to get even with my coworkers. Help me not give in if I’m asked to do things that I know are wrong or immoral or unethical. Father, regardless whether or not my coworkers ever change, help me to love them and pray for them. In the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.