When People Push Back, What Do You Do?
Recently, I’ve had some people struggle with my classes and sermons for different reasons.
- Some feel like they’re falling behind.
- Some think I’m trying to sound smarter than I am.
- Some aren’t sure if what I’m saying is right.
- Others just don’t like staying in the same section of Scripture for an entire week.
None of that is easy to hear. And if I’m honest, it created a real temptation in me to change what I’m doing.
The Pull to Adjust
The temptation to change is not because I suddenly believed the approach was wrong. The pull came because I could feel the discomfort. Not just theirs, mine.
There’s something in all of us that wants to eliminate tension as soon as possible.
We want to smooth things out. Make sure people are comfortable. We want to feel like we’re being received well.
And when that doesn’t happen, our instinct is to adjust.
But This Is Where Formation Happens
The more I sat with it, the more I realized something. This is exactly what formation looks like. It’s difficult and doesn’t always make sense right away. It also often feels unfamiliar.
That’s true for the people hearing the word.
And it’s true for the one teaching it.
The Real Question
So, the question became: Do I change direction because people are uncomfortable? Or do I stay with what I believe is the right course even when it creates tension?
That’s not really a question about method. It’s a question about faithfulness.
Staying, Not Out of Stubbornness
I spent time praying and thinking through it and decided to keep going. I didn’t decide that because I’m unwilling to listen or because I think I have everything right.
I made the decision because I care enough about the people I’m teaching to stay with what I believe is best for their growth.
Formation is not always comfortable. And if I let discomfort alone determine direction, then I won’t just change when people struggle with the process, I might change when they struggle with the truth itself.
The Tension to Hold
That idea doesn’t mean that I should ignore feedback.
It means learning the difference between reaction and discernment. It requires identifying whether someone is uncomfortable because the message is touching them and calling them to adjust or if I’m legitimately wrong in what I am attempting.
That’s not always easy to see in the moment, but it’s something I’m learning to stay with.
A Question Worth Asking
This isn’t just a preacher’s issue. It shows up in all of us.
When something feels uncomfortable, do you move away from it? Or do you stay long enough to let God work in it?
Where I Am Right Now
I don’t have all of this figured out. But I’m learning that faithfulness is not determined by how well something is received.
It’s determined by whether I stay aligned with what I believe God is doing, even when it creates tension.
And for now, that means continuing forward.
