What will you do with conflict? Will it drive you into festering anger or will you face it head on? My suggestion … as hard as it seems to confront conflict it’s most likely the best idea.
1 Peter 3:8, “Finally live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”
You may not like everyone but you do have to love everyone. I am learning to pray for people who are a lot different than me or get under my skin or butt heads with me. As much as it sucks, it is good for me because I usually don’t have a problem with many people. Maybe God puts hard people in our lives to help test our character or change things in our hearts. I sure hope He is doing this in me because I do want to have more compassion and patience. I want to learn to love people who are hard to love.
Pushing others into their God given identity is a way of loving through conflict or frustration. When you see things that don’t line up with the identity of daughter of the King or son of the King then don’t be afraid to call it out. Take the situation head on and help them see where their actions or lack of actions are not aligned with the identity Jesus has for them.
1 Thessalonians 5:13a-15, “Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with EVERYONE. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong from wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”
How convenient that those verses are right before my favorite verses?! (“Be joyful always; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”) I just had to mention that.
But for real, I love people and this month has stretched me because I am really learning how to love those who are hard to love. I told God He would have to explode love in my heart if I was going to love like He wants me to.
I’m sure I am hard to love at times and I am so thankful God chooses to say, “Amy I know that attitude is not you, rise up daughter and take up your identity. Don’t forget you’re mine and you need to live as one who is Victorious, Beautiful, Strong, Patient, Kind, and Lovely.” He doesn’t give up on me but rather brings me back into my identity. When people are living out their God-given identity they are so much easier to love. I mean who doesn’t love Jesus … He is amazing and we are to be like Him.
Sorry if this seems like a rabbit trail, but the point is every now and then I get annoyed with people and instead or giving up on them I am choosing to say hey look God wants more for you. This is one way the Lord is teaching me to love. If I don’t have love I have nothing, so I definitely want to make sure I get this right.
