3. Talk about it.
This may involve asking some clarifying questions or asking for examples. If the criticism stings you badly, ask a few trusted friends for their counsel.
You may be surprised to learn that your friends agree. Or they may tell you to forget about it.
It helps to get perspective from people who are not emotionally involved in the situation. Seek the wisdom that comes from a multitude of counselors (Proverbs 11:14).
4. Learn from it.
Most of the time, we can learn something useful from even the most unfair criticism.
Perhaps you’ve heard about the young boy who was found digging through a large pile of horse manure.
“Son, why are you doing that?”
“With all this manure,” he replied, “there must be a horse in there somewhere.”
You may be facing a pile of manure.
There’s probably a horse in there somewhere.
Dig for it.
5. Pray about it.
If it matters to you, it matters to God. So don’t be afraid to ask God for the wisdom you need:
“Lord, is this true?”
“What are you saying to me through this?”
“Grant me your grace so that I might respond as Christ would respond.”
And maybe this prayer too:
“Lord, I believe my critics are wrong. Some of them seem to have it in for me. Would you bless them anyway? The blessings I ask for myself, I ask for my critics also.”
