Conflict is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to be unbearable. God promises that we’ll clash, but He’s also shown us how to find resolution. Maybe you’ve always seen the Bible as a rulebook. Look again.
At its heart, the Bible is about relationships. It is a collection of stories about people relating to each other and with God. The main theme, however, is about God and His relationship with you through Jesus Christ. Inherently, the relationships are full of conflict … from the Old Testament’s dysfunctional families to the Israelite’s battlefields to the crucifixion of Christ.
Everyone has a different style of dealing with conflict that evolves from instinct, personality and family dynamics. If you’re like most people, you either attack ferociously or run fiercely. Both strategies fail to rely on God’s grace. As you encounter discord, look to the Word to discover what God says about conflict. Ask Him for wisdom to accurately see other views, as well as the state of your own heart. Allow Him to bless you with humility and show you that you don’t have to defend your own interests − He already has!
What God Says
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:19
"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus," Philippians 2:3-5
"Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees," Hebrews 12:12
