When you are reprimanded, how do you respond to it? Do you handle it gracefully, or do you struggle with anger and frustration? Accepting criticism, while difficult, is a part of living in the way we are called to live. Let’s talk about biblically accepting correction.
Accepting correction can be very difficult. Even if the penalty is tactfully given, it can be hard to accept that criticism. There are a couple of big reasons we can struggle with accepting a correction or reprimand. Let’s go over how to biblically accept criticism and move forward.
How important is accepting correction, and how do we do so gracefully and biblically? Learn more about this topic in the following blog post! Share on XWhy Is Accepting Correction Difficult?
While there is a lot of nuance to why accepting correction is difficult, the biggest issue is it feels like a negative attack for most of us. The truth is, many times a correction or criticism is a neutral or even a positive thing. Proverbs 15:32 says, “Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.”
There may be other reasons you could be more sensitive to criticism. How you take criticism is influenced by the environment you grow up in, but it can also feel like an attack on your ego or pride. Knowing where that hurt is coming from can help you understand how to accept correction.
In those moments when we are resisting correction, it is important to handle it gracefully. But how do we do that?
How to Accept Correction Gracefully
The biggest key to receiving correction is to change your mindset. It is important to have an open mind that is ready to learn so that you can take criticism in stride. Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Part of this is taking your pride out of the equation. Being told you did something wrong is painful, and no one wants to hear it. But just as the scripture says, much good comes from criticism.
Moving Forward
Once you have accepted that criticism with grace, it is time to move forward with the correction in mind. If that correction is a good one to implement, then you should take steps to add the change into your life. No one in this world is perfect, so just remember that constructive criticism you receive is not personal. The criticism worth listening to comes from the people looking out for your well-being.
Receive Wisdom at ORBC
At the end of the day, there are a lot of reasons criticism is hard to accept. To accept correction, it is necessary to change your mindset about it. Once you can look at the instruction with an open mind, then it is safe to decide if you are going to accept the criticism or not.
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