Facing Conflict with Friends, Family, or Fellow Church Members? Do These 4 Things.

This week I’m blogging over at Club31Women about how to heal relationships when there’s so much conflict everywhere. Here’s an excerpt:

How can we handle conflict with people we love without making things worse?

The past year has been full of conflicts for all of us. Family members have disagreed over masks and get-togethers. A grandmother has refused to get vaccinated, and this has alienated her children. Differing political viewpoints have divided friends. Some close friends, on opposing sides of the political spectrum, no longer speak to each other. Strong feelings about racism have split churches. Pastors are criticized because they don’t say or do enough or they say the wrong thing. It’s been an exhausting “no-win” situation for many churches. Pastors are weary and discouraged.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash.

It’s been a very painful season, especially when we find ourselves alienated from those we are closest to. Covid fatigue has infected everyone. We are weary and just want “It” to end. We have become numbed by dissension on so many levels. Daily news feeds thrive on conflict. Political discourse has become political bashing. Civility seems to be dying. Kindness forgotten. Perspective lost.  

Our relationships are not meant to be like this. God has something so much better. We need His perspective, His healing. 

Four things will help us begin to heal from conflict.

1. Guard against a critical spirit.  

How could she say “that?” Why won’t they see us? Their stance is ridiculous. I thought we were friends. I can’t believe this family member is doing this to us. 

Most of us have probably had this gut reaction recently to someone. And as we play the hurtful tape over and over in our heads our resentment grows. It’s so easy to nurture a critical spirit. However, that is only going to pollute our souls. Instead, it’s better to share our hurt with our heavenly Father. He knows how we feel anyway so we can be honest with him.

Click here to read the rest of the blog on Club 31: 4 Steps to Help You Handle Conflict with Family, Friends, or Church.