The Consequence of Conflict
Scripture:
“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” James 4:1-3 NLT
Observation:
Conflict is a part of our everyday lives—we see it all over the news and live it in our own lives when we fight or disagree with those around us. It makes us want to cry out to God and ask why He would allow so much division. But we miss a powerful truth: being in conflict with others results in conflict with God. Until we make the choice to be in alignment with one another, our own relationship with God will remain fractured.
Two of my sisters live across the country from me. I recently learned that they had stopped speaking over a year ago. I started asking questions and realized it all stemmed from a big misunderstanding. One of them expected they would never speak to the other again. They were each looking at what the other had done wrong, instead of looking within themselves. I was reminded of the verse from Matthew 7:3 (NIV) when Jesus asks, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank of wood in your own eye?”
So often we obsess over others’ faults, while overlooking our own mistakes and shortcomings. The devil does not want families together. He comes and whispers lies into our ears, causing division. If he can split apart people who have loved each other since birth, or those who made a covenant vow to love one another until death do them part, then he can also open doors to turn entire countries against each other, furthermore, satisfying his goal of turning God’s children against God himself.
Application:
Have you been feeling that you are in conflict with God? Ask yourself what other areas of your life are in conflict. Are there people from your past or present that you need to forgive? Has pride gotten the best of you, causing you to push God away because you think you can resolve this on your own? Or, maybe you've bought the lie that it doesn't need to be resolved, and you can simply ignore it.
Our relationship with others is directly tied to our relationship with the Lord–and vice versa. When we follow the Lord’s will and walk with Him, He can use us in mighty ways to reconcile with others and even teach others to do the same. In my recent situation with my sisters, the Lord gave me the words and insight I needed to remind them of Jesus’s love for them; helping them to find a middle ground, ultimately resolving their conflict within a matter of days! Only the Lord can do that!
The Lord did not design us to do life alone. We need to be surrounded by people who can help us in our walk with Him—who will prod us to let go of grudges and be the one to end the conflict. When we let our guard down and allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives, we welcome a peace that, otherwise, cannot be found. It begins with a simple decision: Let go and let God.
Prayer:
Lord, I surrender my life over to you. Have my heart and make me more like You. Let everything I do—my thoughts, my words, and my relationships, honor You. I want to seek Your face in all I do. Change me and give me a new perspective on how to see You and those around me. I pray for everyone who has wronged me, and I release any bitterness I have against them. Lord, I want to have a fresh start with you. Be the center of my life, and help me choose You every day, even when conflict comes my way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.