First, ask God for wisdom on how to respond to the individual. Sometimes, control is based on insecurity and fear. Maybe this person had something happen to him or her in the past and believes the only way to have a successful relationship is to be controlling. Or, the person may not even realize he or she is coming across as controlling.

You may never know why this person acts the way he or she does, but you can control how you respond. The Lord was very specific about how you should love people.

John 13:34 says, “I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.” And Ephesians 4:2 says, “[Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.” Now, this is not easy, and will probably require faith and patience in handling the relationship. Also remember to pray for the individual, because prayer changes things. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).