Why Separating the Message from the Messenger Matters

Updated: Sep 16

Sometimes the hardest part about growth is not what is being said, but who is saying it. We hear a word of truth, and instead of sitting with it, we block it because of the person delivering it. Maybe you don't like them.

Maybe you don't trust them. Maybe they rubbed you the wrong way in the past. But when you refuse to hear the message because of the messenger, you risk missing what God was trying to get to you.

Today's short blog is about learning to separate the two. The message and the messenger are not the same thing.

Why the Messenger Distracts Us

We are human. That means we attach feelings, memories, and judgments to people. If you have history with someone, or if you think they lack credibility, it is easy to dismiss what they say before you even listen. The delivery style might bother you. Their tone may not sit right. Or you may simply feel like they are not the one who should be telling you anything.

The danger is that you let your view of them become a filter that blocks what you need to hear.

The Cost of Shooting the Messenger

You delay your growth. The lesson you avoid today will meet you again tomorrow. If you keep rejecting the message because you do not like who it came from, you will keep circling the same mountain.
You miss God’s tools. God does not always use people you admire. He may use someone you would never choose. If you decide He can only speak through certain voices, you limit Him.
You give offense more power than truth. When you prioritize your feelings about a person over the truth they convey, you let offense drive your decisions. That is a setup for bondage, not freedom.
You close the door to correction. Correction never feels good in the moment. But it saves you from mistakes that could cost years. If you only accept correction from people you like, you will live with blind spots.
You stunt your relationships. Every community, family, or church has moments where someone has to say the hard thing. If you refuse to hear it because of who said it, you weaken the bond and avoid accountability.

How to Separate the Message From the Messenger

Check your emotions. Ask yourself, “Am I reacting to the content or to the person?” If it is the person, pause. Strip away the history and listen again.
Measure it against truth. Do not reject the message until you have weighed it against the Word of God and sound wisdom. If it lines up, receive it. If it does not, set it aside.
Pray before you dismiss. Before you roll your eyes or walk away, ask God, “What am I supposed to hear in this?” Sometimes the answer is small but important.
Accept imperfection. The messenger may be flawed. They may have failed in the very area they are speaking about. That does not mean the message is false. Truth is still truth, even when delivered by broken people.

The Blessing in Receiving

When you learn to focus on the message, you free yourself. You no longer have to like, trust, or approve of the messenger in order to grow. You just have to stay open. God may use a stranger, a critic, or even someone you consider an enemy to get His word to you. The question is whether you will hear it.

Do not let your dislike for the messenger block your blessing. You are too valuable and your time is too short to keep stumbling over personalities. Choose to receive the message, let it work in you, and move forward.

Just Our Two Cents: The next time you are tempted to shut your ears because of who is talking, pause. Ask yourself, “Is there something here that I need to hear?” If the answer is yes, humble yourself enough to receive it. That is how you grow, and that is how you protect your blessing.

Can you recall a time when you received a message without "shooting" the messenger? Share your experience below.

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