During
a time of tension in any of our relationships, if we journal our disgruntled
feelings, we purge them from our soul. This is an act of prayer as we surrender
them to the Lord. While we wait on the Lord, rather than blurting our feelings
out loud, we allow patience to have her perfect work in us (James 1:4).
The
key to faithfulness in our relationships is forgiveness and apologies. Even if
we were not wrong, we can apologize for hurting the other person's feelings.
Humility puts our partner at ease and generates an environment for them to
apologize for their own part in the quarrel.
Of
course, they may never ask for forgiveness for the disappointments, abuse,
broken promises, deep wounds, taking us for granted, rejection of us from their
life, insecure life we experienced at their hand, etc., but God has us in the
palm of His hand, and He will bless us in spite of their attitude.
If
our differences of opinion with our mate are ignored, the issues will resurface
with some future catalyst. They will also cause our feelings over this new issue
to balloon out of proportion with the added steam from the unresolved conflicts
of the past.
Sometimes,
relying on God’s agape love is the only way to care for an individual in the
absence of any feeling of human love toward him/her. The painful memories ease
with time, but a restored dedication to the unity between us creates loving
emotions in us right away.
Then,
our words will be as sweet as apples of gold in pictures of silver (Proverbs
25:11). Every relationship eventually experiences an argument. To protect the
integrity of our relationship, we recommit our self to one another after every
stressful event or time of discord in our life.
Prayer:
Father
God, when we experience conflict in a
relationship, please give us the humility to admit where we are wrong and to
apologize for hurting their feelings. Move by Your Spirit to renew the bonds of
love between us, and allow us to walk in one accord. Help us to develop a
spirit of unity and cooperation that will be a light to our family and
community.
Remind
us that even if we are not at fault, we can apologize for contributing to the
discord. The other person may never apologize to us, but if they do, this serves to
reassure both of us of our faithfulness and love to each other now and for the
future. If they actually never apologize to us, we can accept the fact that
their fault in the issues between us is in Your capable hands.
Thought
for the Day:
To restore our relationships, we start
by submitting to God's efforts to heal the factions within our own personality;
as God makes us whole and complete in Christ who abides within us, we find it
easier to accept one another exactly as we are; then, conflict rarely arises.
- Colossians 2:10
