Don’t defend yourself too quickly.
Defensiveness can rise out of pride and being unteachable.
Consider what might be true in the critique, even if it is given in a poor way.
Even if it is given with the intent to hurt or mock, there still might be something worth considering.
God might be speaking to you through this person.
Remember the Cross.
Someone has said that people won’t say anything about us the Cross hasn’t already said and more, which is, we are sinners who deserve eternal punishment. So, actually, anything anyone says about us is less than what the Cross has said about us.
Turn to God who accepts you in Christ unconditionally despite your many sins and failures. We can be discouraged when we see areas of sin or failure, but Jesus has paid for those on the cross and God is pleased with us because of Christ.
Consider the fact that you have blind spots.
We can’t always see ourselves accurately. Maybe this person is seeing something you can’t see about yourself.
Pray about the criticism.
Ask God for wisdom—“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8).
Ask others for their opinion.
Your critic could be right or completely off the wall. If this is an area of sin or weakness in your life, then others will have seen it too.
Consider the source.
Don’t do this too quickly, but consider the other person’s possible motives, their level of expertise or wisdom, etc. They may be criticizing you to hurt you, or they may not know what they’re talking about.
