Life is full of unpredictable encounters, and sometimes, they are far from pleasant. I live in Lima, Peru, it is a city that thrives on chaos, disorder, constant noise, imprudence, informality, etc.. and it can be very frustrating as a Christian.

One such situation recently occurred during a morning walk with my dog which is a regular thing for me and I pray every morning to the Lord that we are safe as sometimes things can happen with the world and people not living for Jesus but for there own egos, narcicism, chaos, there own Gods, there greed, etc.. etc.. typical Lima.

So in this case, this typical morning walk turned into a bit of frustrating experience within a second acually with an imprudent neighbor. This incident not only tested my patience but also reminded me of the importance of responding in a Christ-like manner in difficult situations.

The Incident: An Unexpected Conflict

While walking my dog in the morning, I encountered a woman who nearly hit my dog as she backed out of her garage without checking the sidewalk. Shocked and alarmed, I reacted instinctively and confronted her about her recklessness. However, instead of acknowledging her mistake, she responded rudely, refusing to take responsibility for her actions. This led to an argument that left me feeling both angry and frustrated.

In an effort to ensure accountability, I reported the incident to my building management, asking them to review security footage of the event. While I believed this was the right step to take for the sake of safety, I couldn’t shake the frustration that lingered. Why are people so inconsiderate? Why do so many lack basic decency? These questions swirled in my mind, making it difficult to move past the situation.

Handling the Situation with a Biblical Perspective

As followers of Christ, we are called to respond differently to conflict than the world does. While frustration is a natural reaction, Scripture provides wisdom on how to handle such situations:

1. Control Your Own Reactions
   We cannot control how others behave, but we can control how we respond. Proverbs 16:32 (KJV) reminds us, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Even when faced with rudeness, we should strive to remain calm and measured in our words.
2. Do Not Return Evil for Evil
   Jesus instructs us in Matthew 5:44 (KJV): “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” This is difficult, but by refusing to retaliate, we reflect Christ’s love and maintain our own peace.
3. Leave Justice to God
   When we experience unfair treatment, it’s tempting to seek personal justice, but Romans 12:19 (KJV) says, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Trusting God to deal with people’s wrongdoings frees us from resentment.
4. Pray for Wisdom and Protection
   If you live near or regularly encounter someone who is confrontational, pray for discernment. James 1:5 (KJV) says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” If a person continues to be problematic, it may be wise to avoid unnecessary interaction while keeping a heart of forgiveness.
5. Jesus Understands Our Frustration
   Even Jesus, who was full of love and patience, grew weary of the hardness of people’s hearts. Matthew 17:17 (KJV) says, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?” He understands your frustration, and He invites you to lay it before Him.

Avoiding Future Conflicts and Maintaining Peace

While we can’t always prevent difficult encounters, there are ways to reduce the likelihood of future conflict:

• Practice Patience and Let Small Offenses Go
  Not every disagreement needs to escalate. If someone is rude, sometimes the best response is to walk away and pray for them.
• Be Wise About Who You Engage With
  Some people thrive on arguments. If you sense that someone is looking for a fight, it’s best to avoid engaging with them unnecessarily.
• Don’t Let Bitterness Take Root
  Ask God for strength to navigate this world without being consumed by its hardness. Psalm 37:7 (KJV) says, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”
• Only God Can Change People
  Ezekiel 36:26 (KJV) says, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”
• People living in sin, ego, and pride need God to transform them, not us. We can pray for them, but we cannot force their change. Jesus Himself faced hard-hearted, cynical, and self-righteous people, and though He rebuked them, He did not try to force them to change. Instead, He focused on those whose hearts were open.
• This World Is Sinful, But We Are Called to Be Different
  This world is full of sin, and it’s frustrating to see people act without conscience. But God has called us to be different from them. John 17:14–16 (KJV) says, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

Conclusion: Finding Peace Amidst a Sinful World

Ultimately, we live in a fallen world where people often act out of selfishness, pride, and sin, I have experienced this not just in Peru, but also in the U.S, Australia, Germany, Bolivia. So it really doesn’t matter where you are, sin is everywhere and it is a problem with the world but we as Christians do not live in the world and we have to be careful not to get shaken up by the enemy and his tactics to provoke us using the world.

Jesus Himself faced people who were cynical and unrepentant, yet He did not allow their behavior to shake His peace. We are called to do the same.

While it’s frustrating to deal with people who lack accountability, wisdom, or kindness, we must remember that we are not called to change them — that’s God’s job. Our responsibility is to reflect Christ in how we respond and to guard our own hearts from bitterness and anger.

Next time you face a similar situation, take a deep breath, pray, and ask God for strength. Your reaction can be a powerful testimony of God’s grace working in you, even in the face of rudeness and conflict. This to me is a constant thing now as a Christian as it really makes a difference to ask the Lord to help you on your day to day life living in the world but we are not from this world, we are from God’s Kingdom.

May the Lord give us the patience, wisdom, and strength to respond to difficult people with grace, love, and self-control.