Rejection is powerful.

When I counsel people, sometimes I hear them say, "I don't care if people like me, as long as they respect me." When they say that, it's an "emotional wall they use to block the hurt of rejection," according to psychologist Marcia Reynolds.

God created us to be social, and if we're honest, all of us care if people like us. "The feeling of love, affection, and belonging is necessary before we can reach the highest levels of consciousness and wisdom," according to psychologist Abraham Maslow.

Maslow is saying we all need people to survive. So, how do keep from withdrawing when dealing with someone who doesn't like you?

Fortunately, you're not the only one who's had to deal with this problem. After Samuel had anointed David as the future King of Israel, Saul became his bitter enemy. Like David, all of us at one time or another deal with people we don't like and who don't like us. Perhaps you have people who want to do you harm and see you fail. This is where David found himself in 1 Samuel Chapter 24.

His enemy Saul wanted to see him dead, and he spent a considerable amount of time chasing David to kill him. Then one day Saul made a mistake. He walked right into the place where David and his men were without realizing David was there.

Imagine how you might have felt if your worst enemy (or hater) was in front of you and didn't know you were there. Would you attack that person? Most of us would not think twice about getting revenge on that person, especially when doing so would mean we would no longer have to run and hide from them.

But David was different. Even though David wanted to stop running and hiding, he also wanted to honor God more. Saul was a King that God anointed, and David knew that he could not just kill him. Understanding this, he denied his initial thought to kill Saul.

As believers, you too will have opportunities to choose what you want to do and what is right. Devoted followers decide to honor God in every situation and at all times, no matter what. David didn't kill Saul when he had the chance and God counted it as an honor. Later in David's life God honored him.

How can you go on with life without letting enemies, critics or haters get you down? Here are 3 Ways To Deal With People Who Don't Like You:

1. Try to understand them. Haters normally are people who have issues with themselves that they either refuse to resolve or maybe even refuse to acknowledge. What they hate about you:

1. Could be the one thing they hate about themselves, or

2. What they hate about you is really what they secretly admire about you.

When they have a problem with you, understand that it is nothing personal with you. It is their personal issue. Try to walk a mile in their shoes and see things from their perspective. Instead of hating them you should feel sorry for them.

2. Be kind to them. Probably the hardest, yet the most character-defining thing you can do is to be helpful to people who are unkind to you. Showing kindness is not dependent on what you receive from people. Showing kindness depends on your character. What you do or say to others does not define them ... it defines you.

Remember that how they see and treat you are a reflection and extension of how they see and treat themselves. Most unkind people are harsh with themselves, so they extend it to others around them.

3. Pray for them. Jesus Himself has had His share of critics and haters. He not only ignored them and continued with His mission, He also prayed for them. He orders us to do the same—pray for those who persecute you. The curses you say towards others can come back to you, but so can the blessings.

He also said that when you offer peace, and the other person does not accept it, peace would come back to you. There is no losing on your part.

What are some of the ways you deal with people who don't like you?

Rev. Clarence E. Stowers Jr. succeeded his father, Dr. Clarence Stowers Sr., as the pastor of the historic Mars Hill Baptist Church of Chicago in 1999. Mars Hill has experienced phenomenal ministry growth under his visionary pastoral leadership since then. Follow Rev. Stowers' blog, The Urban Pastor or check out Mars Hill's website.

For the original article, visit cestowers.com.

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