“You’re right,” I sighed. “I haven’t made an effort. I commit to you now to make a genuine effort, and that I will pray daily for the Lord to help me change. That’s all I can do.”
Conflict. It is present in every healthy relationship. Let me repeat that. Conflict is present in every healthy relationship. If there isn’t some conflict, then someone’s not being honest. That’s when bitterness and resentment build. While conflict is normal and healthy, it is working through and reconciling those conflicts that will keep the relationship healthy. Are you familiar with any of these strategies: a person always getting their way, pouting, blowing up, yelling, name calling, pretending to agree to keep the peace, remaining silent, bullying, threatening, providing ultimatums, bringing up past failures, tearing down, swearing…. These tactics do not build trust and connection. Rather, they breed distrust, separation, and disunity. Yuck! Just writing all that feels icky. I want to run. Yet there is Good News! God is in the business of reconciling and redeeming relationships! It’s what He’s done since the beginning. He redeemed you to Himself, giving you the ability to have reconciled peace with others. As mentioned in the last blog, Jesus is the key. So how do you do this? What does healthy conflict look like? The answer to that question will be in the next blog. For the purpose of this one, understand that without honest reconciliation, the relationship you seek will remain an empty shell. Commit now, with the Lord’s help, to be honest, humble, to seek to understand the other’s perspective, and to reconcile. It will bring depth, strength, trust, connection, and greater love. That’s something you long for in every relationship, isn’t it? By the way, the conflict I wrote about above was about interrupting my husband. It was a terrible habit. Yet with intentional commitment, and daily prayer, the Lord did help me change. And our relationship is better for it. How has resolving conflict strengthened your relationships? Please share in the comments below. © Sanctuary of Home™ All Rights Reserved
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
January 2025
Categories
All
|