Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?– Romans 2:4

People are not created to be nagged and manipulated. God created people with the free will to choose to change; not be forced to change. Let’s face it: not even God can change us unless we are willing! So how does God influence us to change? By His goodness and grace! God never manipulates or pressures anyone; rather He loves people just as they are, and it is His grace that influences people to change.

Here is the takeaway for you today: the best way to change the person who drives you crazy is to change yourself. The greatest way to influence change in someone else is to work on your inner level of grace and compassion. You create a strong influence and motivation to change when people see that you are not out to change them but rather you are working hard at being the best that you can be. Take the focus off their behavior and start working on yours.

Be more concerned about how you respond to them than you are their response to you. You are the one person over which you have complete control… so start working on the level of grace you have with people. Work on what you can control and let go of what you can’t. Who knows…you might wake up one day and find that annoying coworker has become one of your best friends!