Max Lucado - Dealing with Difficult Relatives

Odds are, you probably have a difficult relative—someone you can’t talk to and can’t walk away from. Did you know Jesus had a difficult family? In fact, they were embarrassed by him. Mark 3:21 tells us, “His family went to get him because they thought he was out of his mind.”

Notice that Jesus didn’t try to control his family’s behavior, nor did he let their behavior control his. As long as you think you can control people’s behavior toward you, you are held in bondage by their opinions.

Let God give you what your family doesn’t. We know that God affirmed Jesus as “my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with him.” Jesus gave his relatives space, time, and grace. And because he did, they changed. One brother became an apostle, and others became missionaries. So don’t lose heart. God still changes families.