When
we experience conflict in this world (John 16:33), we can change our focus
about it, stop blaming other people, and realize that we have the full power of
the Trinity of God abiding within us. Every situation is a growing experience
for us.
Rather
than clawing our way to the top of the food chain, we can release our desire to
struggle, to defend our self, and to make our point, by trusting that God is in
control and gives us hope and a blessed future (Jeremiah 29:11).
We
attempt to understand the other person's viewpoint, champion their causes,
support their endeavors, and defend their option to experience those things
without having the need to control them of the outcome.
We
do not need to reap the consequences of their behavior. We can always make our
own choices once they make theirs. First, we analyze why their decision bothers
us, why it makes us fearful and insecure, and what we can do to avoid their consequences.
Does
their decision make us feel abandoned, excluded, insecure, neglected, etc? If
so, we can make an appointment with them during a calm, stress-free part of the
day to discuss how we feel. Hopefully,
they will take our needs into consideration too.
They
may be agreeable to finding an option we can both live with that does not
demand more compromise from one of us than from the other. It will help if we
discover some answers to questions like these:
What core need is driving their decision
and our uncertainty? Can we meet our own need and give them the freedom to
follow their instincts? This allows us to be sensitive to their needs without
contributing to our own doubts and stress.
We
realize that God knows the truth of what happened, so we can stop fighting with
others, allowing them to make their own decisions and giving them a peaceful
environment where they are less defensive, calmer, and freer to be who God
created them to be.
Prayer:
Father
God, You are the ultimate peace-maker and You gave us to the ministry of reconciliation
(2 Corinthians 5:18). Sometimes, we cannot make peace with a person or group,
and they refuse to reformulate a loving and caring reciprocal relationship. Remind
us that we can agree to disagree with them, and to keep the relationship at
arm's length until it can be restored.
You
sent us Jesus to die for us and to give us all the opportunity to exercise our
free will. We do not have to live in a one-sided environment where we are
neglected, abused, falsely accused and abandoned. You taught me that we can allow
others to make their choices and then we can make our own decisions that are
right for our life.
Thought
for the Day:
Recognizing
each other's strengths and having compassion on each other's weaknesses will go
a long way in restoring and promoting peace and joy in our relationship; this helps
us to find a happy medium that we can both agree with, and teaches us tolerance
of our differences.
