To Strive for Peace, Put Away Strife

“How do you resolve conflict? Everything I've tried fails to bring peace. Instead the conflicts worsen, and we’ve grown farther apart,” explained a young man concerning his relationship with his new wife. This reality motivates some who are experiencing conflict to give up and walk out. Conflicts are resolvable when individuals listen to reason.



At the center of conflicts that cannot be resolved exists an incompatibility between what individuals want and the demand for resolution. The more noteworthy a conflict, the more passionate will be a display of feelings. When rationality gives way to blaming and shouting, hope for a solution sinks into an impasse.

What gets lost at this juncture is how much the participants love and care for one another. Separation may be needed so rational thinking can return to correct the damage inflicted on each other’s self-esteem. God's word encourages putting away arguments, fighting and strife. Instead, do your best to understand and respect each other's needs from God’s perspective.  

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Avoid the passions of youth, and strive for righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who with a pure heart call out to the Lord for help. But keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments; you know that they end up in quarrels.

~2 Timothy 2:22-23 Good News Bible