Devotional - Dealing with nagging

“because she was tormenting him with her nagging” (Judges 14:17)

“with such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it” (Judges 16:16)

Message:

Samson fell into 2 traps because of the nagging of 2 Philistine women, Delilah being the second. We can learn a lot from the story.

“NAGGING” is how we describe a persistent something that bothers us 

A nagging headache

A nagging cough

Unfortunately people also nag - about their wants, rules, wish lists, or anything!

Nagging can become a habit or character trait

BUT

Nagging can also be our perception of a behaviour and language that others genuinely can’t help.

It’s tough when your child calls your name over and over...

Or

When someone asks the same question time and time again ...

Or 

As in my household, asked 3-4 times a day, “please, can you help me…” normally when I'm in the middle of doing something!

It can be irritating, infuriating and exhausting to have this day in day out.

So how do we cope? 

Sometimes not well at all, but unless we learn how to deal with this in a Christlike manner then we may well cave in like Samson did - and all the worse for us.

Do we need more patience?

Do we need more compassion?

Do we need to pre-empt any needs?

Do we need to see things from the other person’s side?

Do we need to look at how we are responding which may be making matters worse?

Do we need to lower expectations?

Point to ponder: 

How calm and regulated are you when others start nagging? What can you do to help yourself?

Prayer pointer:

“Loving Father, it never ceases to amaze me how much you concentrate on relationships – all your ways, your advice, your commands, your exhortations for us to bear with one another and speak to one another in love. Thank you for showing us your heart over our relationships. Holy Spirit come into our situation. Please give me wisdom, patience and understanding behind behaviours so that it won’t get to me so much and I can be the agent to bring peace and change, and not further strife. In Jesus name, Amen!”