There are times when we meet people who are too difficult to get along with. Whether it is your workmate or neighbor, these people can sometimes get into our nerves.

Now, most often than not, it is better to simply stay away from difficult people. However, this is not always the case.

There will be difficult people who we must put up with on a regular basis because of certain situations.

This is what happened in the life of Jacob.

We know how Jacob had lived up to his name of being a supplanter.

Through trickery and deception, he got Esau’s birthright and stole his blessings.

Jacob is destined to be a great man of faith. However, before that will happen, God needs to change him and He changed him through Laban.

Laban is the father of Jacob’s future wives, Rachel and Leah.

We read in the Bible how Jacob met his match.

Jacob used darkness to deceive his father Isaac and Laban also used darkness to deceive Jacob.

Jacob used goat’s skin and the clothes of Esau to make Isaac believe that he was Esau.

Laban used alcoholic drinks to numb Jacob’s senses and believe he was sleeping with Rachel.

Jacob got Esau’s birthright and blessings and Laban denied Jacob to have Rachel after working seven years for her.

While it was a hard pill to swallow, Laban was actually changing Jacob in the process.

God allows certain things to happen to change our ways and develop our character.

Because of Laban, Jacob learned patience, humility, and even faith in God.

Think about the difficult people in your life today.

What could be the lessons God wants you to learn from them?

Is there anything in your life that you need to change as you deal with difficult people in your life?

Think about this for a second.

Instead of resenting difficult people, be thankful for them because God might be using them to turn you into a better person.