The simple, undeniable truth of life related to conflict is this: you will experience conflict. It doesn’t matter how hard you try to avoid it. How anxious it makes you. How much you want people to like you. Even if you become a chameleon, a 1000 different people- and losing yourself in the process of trying to please everyone- you won’t. The fallenness of humanity guarantees a lack of sustainable peace.
So, then, what you left with?
– Deal with the things that need to be dealt with. Don’t put them off. Conflict denied becomes conflict intensified. Almost every time. And your anxiety will grow each and every day. This is the one I struggle with most.
– Don’t become someone you’re not in order to get everyone else to like you. Be true to who you are, even while you submit yourself to the examination of God’s Spirit so that he can continually change you into who he called you to be.
– Avoid and refuse to cater to people who thrive on conflict. “Reject a divisive man after the first and second warnings. Have nothing more to do with him”- Apostle Paul
– Pray hard beforehand. And do what is right. In the end, you’ll need to be able to look yourself in the mirror and know that you did the right thing.
– Do not return angry and loud voices with the same. The scriptures say that “a soft answer turns away wrath.”
– Even while seeking peace, trust that God can use the trial to grow you. So the person who is causing problems can actually be a gift to help you grow closer to God. Smile inwardly as you remember that. And resolve to do what’s right in the eyes of God.
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