Good morning! How are we faithing? We have a tough time accepting criticism especially when that criticism strikes an area we are not real confident in. I have a friend who's feelings were hurt by someone who's opinion didn't even matter let alone have any bearing on her life. That area is an area that her confidence is not the greatest therefore the comment went right to the heart. Where is our confidence? Where do we rest our weakness and strength? That is a question YOU must ask yourself...no fair being dishonest either. Think about the things that you struggle with and seek God in that thing. A flip comment is just that...flip...not a comment that deserves any consideration and here's why. Do they understand your situation? Do they know of your struggles? Do they have constructive motives by those comments? These are things to assure yourself of before those comments come. How you ask? Pray for wisdom. Pray for clarity of mind. Pray for discernment. Read the Word somehow every day so you have true wisdom stored within the confines of that mind. Consider the source and the motive of the comment bearer. I've had things thrown at me that were out of context of what was happening and it was obvious they were thrown like a hail Mary football toss, just hoping it would land and take the heat off their end. We also must remember that God prunes us. If it is harmful, off it comes and our resistance to that pruning creates deeper scars. No one likes to be shown their error but the wise person learns rather than resist and retaliate. We must be concerned with our deal and not theirs. God is dealing with them too. 

John 15:1-4
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
NIV

2 Cor 4:17-18
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
NIV

Phil 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God. NIV

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your wise words that sustain us. Thank you for your spirit that holds us and thank you for your son that saves us. Lord we ask for wisdom and discernment to weed out the thorns that wound us. Heal our hearts and minds so we can be a loving child of yours. Heal those who are hurting today, keep our leaders aware of your sovereignty, in Jesus' name, amen