How to Handle Criticism
We have to face the fact that in life not everybody is going to be happy when you succeed. Not everybody is going to agree with you. A lot of people are going to criticize you and your decisions. Some people will even criticize your beliefs.
Jesus, although perfect and sinless was not immune to being reviled or criticized by others.
The question however, is how should you handle criticism.
1 Peter 2:23 NKJV
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
When criticized by others, Jesus did not criticize in return nor did He get angry or discouraged because of what the Pharisees, scribes or unbelievers said about Him.
Jesus instead focused on God and on the mission that the Father gave Him.
Negative criticism only serves the purpose of distracting you from God’s purpose for your life. You have to accept the fact that you can’t please everyone, so you might as well please God only. In the midst of the criticism, like Jesus, you must focus all your attention on God and trust that God will judge righteously.
Mark 6:6 NKJV
And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
Sometimes the closest people in your life can criticize you negatively.
When Jesus went to His own hometown among the people He grew up with, they did not receive His teachings. The people criticized Jesus and the scripture says that they were “offended” (read Mark 6:1-6).
However, Jesus did not stay and argue with His criticizers. He did not keep a grudge or become angry with them. Instead Jesus carried on teaching from village to village, because His focus was on pleasing God and not men.
Today. Don’t focus on those who are criticizing you. Don’t hold a grudge or hate those who criticize you. Instead determine to achieve what God has set before you and let God handle the “haters”.