We all have people in our lives who occasionally will not be on speaking terms.  These people could very well be walking through a situation they do not know how to face.  It’s possible we made them angry with us and they do not have the courage to tell us so.  The absolute worst cold shoulder is from one who enjoys seeing us feel uncomfortable.  These type cold shoulders usually happen for the length of time it takes for us to give up and move on only to have them rekindle the friendship.  About the time we feel we have won that friendship back it happens all over again.

This behavior is especially popular with teens and their cold shoulders toward us is usually some insecurity within their own hearts.  They have been hurt in the past and feel they do not deserve our friendship or they feel inferior wanting us to fit a mold we know nothing about.

These cold shoulders, should they happen over and over again, eventually destroys the chance of a friendship being restored at all.  When we are there for a friend year after year getting rejected over and over it destroys trust.

Today with cyberspace being so popular, it’s easy for a person to manipulate us with things such as being all over the social site while our messages sit with no answer.  They will acknowledge all comments and skip ours.  They will read inbox mail but not respond. 

In our hearts we know we have reached out to these people in ways that have gone more than a second mile.  For each silent treatment there creates a deeper level of distrust.  Again and again we give them chance after chance only to be set up to be ignored yet another time.  Eventually we get sucked completely dry where mentally, physically and spiritually there is nothing else to give and we are not even missed if we walk away.

How would Jesus respond?  Jesus loves unconditionally yet He is a Gentleman and never forces Himself on anyone.  The love is still there and Jesus draws close to those who draw close to Him.

Is it ok for us to walk away from a habitual rejector?  Absolutely.  It frees up more time to draw closer to Jesus.  The numerous hours spent trying to figure out why we get rejected when we give our best can now be spent with the One Who will never give us the silent treatment.

Proverbs 19:19  New Living Translation

Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty.  If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.