Humility Amidst Conflict

In this world we will find trouble… (John 16:33)

Such encouraging words aren’t they? Ha!

I say this to you so that you will have peace.

What??!! Not sure about you, but neither of these phrases brings me much comfort. Most of the time when I am in the middle of trouble, peace is not the first, second, third, or forth emotion that comes flying up from the depths of my heart.

So, why did Jesus tell his disciples and now through this scripture tell us that we can have peace? Let’s think about the facts. Jesus doesn’t lie. He says we can have peace in the midst of trouble….so why do we not feel peace?

Maybe because the Truth we know in our head is not the same truth we hold in our soul. We need to do some soul searching to determine the lie our soul is believing concerning ourselves or about who our God is. We need to grab a cup of coffee to discern that belief. God wants to have that cup of coffee with you, so go to Him with it.

Identify any lie you are believing and then determine the Truth we should believe instead.  Peace gives us the ability to think clearly. Thinking clearly helps us to choose humility in the place of the lies fostering the emotions of anger, indignation, frustration, and resentment. Notice I did not say that it would replace the hurt. We will be hurt and nothing will take that away. God is the Balm of Gilead for that hurt. Choosing to believe His Truth will keep the hurt from festering. So what Truth do we need to believe:

Once we relinquish our soul’s desire to stand up for our rights and express our hurts and righteous opinion – we can then do the job God actually gave us to do…LOVE. We can’t have peace or humility while remaining in the conflict. Neither will peace or humility come by trying to defend ourselves and prove we are right. Stating facts about the situation is necessary. Fighting to have people listen, hear, and believe those facts not our job.

Our job is to treat everyone with patience, kindness, without envy, boastfulness, arrogance, rudeness, selfishness, irritableness, or resentment. By claiming the truths of who God is and what He will do, we can bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. Ultimately, when we experience peace, humility, and love for others in the midst of our conflicts – we can be very, very sure that it is the Holy Spirit working through us, and not anything we have mustered up on our own.

Be confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil 1:6)

So have your say.  How do you deal with the battles we experience in ministry?  I would love to read your comments in the forum or here.  Remember when you click on the forum if you are not signed in you will need to do so in order to post a comment.

I would love the opportunity to talk with you about any life/situation.  I am here for you and want you to know we are praying for ministry wives. I am waiting in the forum to discuss any heart issue.   Either way let’s chat.

Ashley (Dr. A) is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a licensed professional counseling in the state of Louisiana. She has been counseling for over 12 years and currently serves as the Clinical Director of Restoration Counseling, a Christian counseling practice in New Orleans, LA. Ashley is also adjunct professor for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has previously taught for North Greenville University and Liberty University. Dr. A and her husband, Dr. Page Brooks, have been married almost eleven years. They have 2 daughters, Karis (5 years old) and Alethia (3 years old) and Josiah Carson (17 mo. old).  The Lord has used adoption as the means by which He has expanded the Brooks family. The Lord has given the Brooks a passion for specifically multi-racial adoption.

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