Do you remember being a kid and having a friend tell you “I need to talk to you”? Or maybe you had a parent say quietly “I’m going to have a talk with you later.”
Typically, those sentences would cause your stomach to drop. Our mind translates those words into a negative tone, and we can worry we’ve done something wrong or we’ll be in trouble.
As an adult, I’ve found that a lot of people avoid communicating. Why? There are many reasons. I wonder sometimes if it’s because we worried about certain communications when we were kids. Sometimes, it can be uncomfortable to be direct.
As a Christ follower, we learn a couple things about communication and confrontation in the Bible.
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” Proverbs 27:5
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan.” Matthew 18:15 (The words of Jesus)
I view avoidance as a sin. I believe it is very important to be direct in our relationships. Jesus told us so in the scripture above from Matthew!
When there’s a grievance with a spouse, child, sibling, parent, friend, boss, co-worker, it is very important to address it.
If we glaze over conflict, it never gets solved, and bitterness can take root. When we are bitter, we make ourselves sick! Bitterness is not the life God planned for us.
Think about your closest relationships… are they worth keeping to you? If the answer is yes, then they are worth fighting for. Sometimes, fighting for relationships means having difficult communications.
On the flip side, sometimes we are the ones in the wrong! I’ve always been very grateful when my closest loved ones have communicated my wrongdoings. Sometimes it hurts my feelings, but I would never want anyone to harbor a grudge against me.
This life on earth is not a “walk in the park”. It was never meant to be easy or comfortable all the time because it’s not our true home. Heaven is!
When we are in Christ Jesus, He helps us with loving one another. He creates a Christian bond that we have the privilege of sharing, and we are truly a part of the Family of God!
“I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod
For I’m part of the family
The Family of God!”
Related posts:
A Moment with Maria | It Wasn’t Supposed to Be This Way
A Moment with Maria | Going with Jesus
A Moment with Maria | The Sparrow
A Moment with Maria | The End Goal
A Moment with Maria | These Are The Gifts I Bring
A Moment with Maria | For Good
A Moment with Maria | Who Do You Think You Are?
A Moment with Maria | You Are Going To Make It