What do you do when someone gets in YOUR space and refuses to budge?!

That’s what I wondered when our dog Trooper decided MY FAVORITE CHAIR was more comfortable for HIM than his other, usual, resting spots!

I understood– it was a cold, windy, evening, and this chair would keep him cozy and warm. But what about me?

First I tried graciously offering to share that warm and comfortable space. But he wouldn’t move over– not even a centimeter! Not even when I attempted to nudge him…

Then I thought about physically lifting him off– I intended to do it kindly– even let him sit on my lap– but 60 pounds of canine kingly cuteness can be quite difficult for me…

So I let him be– there– in my favorite, warm, cozy, comfortable chair… After all– there was plenty of space on two sofas…

Was it really worth “fighting” over? Especially knowing that this situation was only temporary– Trooper would soon-enough go do something else, and I would be leaving as well before long for a good night’s sleep.

Unfortunately, sweet, lovable, pets aren’t the only ones who get in our space.  Nasty, hard-to-love, people do too!

What should we do when those people interrupt our lives, destroy our comfort, and invade our “space”? —

~Emotionally— disrupting our peace, contentment, sense of well-being, etc.?

~Relationally— dominating conversations, rude behavior, insults, etc.

~Physically— being where WE want to be— in the house, on
the road, in a store, in a restaurant, etc.

~Vocationally/in ministry— Doing what we want to do? Competing with us for positions, roles, promotions, assignments, etc.?

Ask ourselves—“Is it really worth the battle??”

Here’s how to decide if it is:

  • If not confronting or correcting sin/lies would result in harm to others, as well as ourselves, due to deceit. “No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.” Ps. 101:7
  • If not confronting the person/their behavior would result in future harm to themselves. (Ezek. 3:20-21)
  • If allowing the situation to continue, uncontested, would cause irreversible psychological or physical damage to us. The key here is remembering that God is sovereign.
  • If our lives are at stake—for example, someone is attempting to remove our space between us and a cliff. (How often does something like this happen?)

If one of these actually applies, then ask ourselves another question— How soon do we have to fight? How urgent is it, really?  If it can wait, let it wait.  Why?

–While we’re waiting, the issue may get solved without our intervention.

—Confronting at the wrong time will do more harm than good.  For example, starting an argument late at night will make us lose sleep.  Or, the boss may be in a bad mood when we bring up a colleague’s infringement, and we’ll get in trouble.  Or, we may not have the support or resources necessary yet to win the battle.

Yes, we sometimes do need to confront and correct. But many times we don’t. Let’s choose our battles– for the sake of the relationship and the greater good.

Isaac did this—every time other herdsmen quarreled with him over a well he dug, he just dug another one, three times, until he finally dug one in the best place, no one quarreled, he enjoyed peace with his neighbors, and the Lord rewarded his willingness to seek harmony with others, even when it meant more effort and inconvenience (Gen. 26:21-35).

There’s plenty of room for all of us, and our sovereign Lord will give us the best space and place for our needs.

Sometimes it’s best to just LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE!