Truth be told I had no idea what I was going to write for this post. I can be a fairly opinionated person, but have learned to pick my battles because the reality is that most things are not worth making a huge fuss over. In my opinion there are just so many more things to steward my energy into than being a disagreeable person, but I never want to lack boldness in standing up for what I believe in.
So here’s something I believe: I believe that this world would be a much better place if people learned how to deal with conflict correctly.
Like I said, I had no idea what I was going to write for this post, this dare to live boldly by speaking my mind about something. Then the Lord provided an opportunity yesterday that only solidified my belief that the lack of biblical conflict resolution is a HUGE problem and I couldn’t say no. I can’t and won’t back down from this. Y’all, if we are going to get anywhere in life then we need to be able to work through our issues together, give grace and forgiveness, and love one another well.
There won’t be any details here about what happened, but the gist is that rather than someone having a conversation with us about an issue they went to a third party instead. Rather than taking a chance on strengthening a relationship, they (and honestly I have no idea who “they” are) asked someone else to do the dirty work for them.
I believe that biblical conflict resolution means taking a chance on talking to someone – like, an actual conversation – about the issue, however big or small.
It means being patient with our fellow fallible humans.
It means owning your emotions and owning your mistakes. It also means humbly allowing others to own theirs.
It means extending grace and forgiveness because we have that infinitely showered over us.
It means loving someone enough to work through it all and coming out on the other side, whatever the other side looks like.
Y’all, I believe that we can all do this together, but more importantly we can do ALL THINGS through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13), even the hard emotional stuff. In a world that would pull us apart, I pray that we can say NO to our desire to pass off relational conflict to other people, and that we would say YES to love and forgiveness and mercy.
Lord, I come before you asking that you will heal our hearts. That you would give us boldness to work through our stuff together as directed by your Word. That we can extend the same forgiveness and love to others that you have so boldly and FREELY given to us. And thank you. Thank you for giving your Son so that we might live in bold freedom for you all our days. I pray that we would be able to dig down and trust you to help us do that.
Amen.
I SO needed to read this today. Thank you.
I love this. Sometimes I hold back and don’t say what I need to and I know that is a flaw that I need to work on.
This is a great post, Heather. This is something that I pray about every day – that I might live patiently and treat others with love (it IS the Golden Rule after all 🙂 ). Happy Friday, hope you and your family have a great weekend!
Heather, this is so good and so needed. I stepped out on a limb once and voiced my perceptions and hurts to someone that I cared about but was struggling with bitterness towards. In about 3-4 minutes of letting that person explain why they were doing what they were, all the bitterness was wiped away and the relationship is so good now! It might not always resolve that easily, but it practically showed me that God’s way really, really is the best way! This was such a needed post! Thank you!
Alesha <3
Heather, this is so good and