Skip to main content

Rehearse Or Release by Martin Wiles

When I thought about it, my stomach knotted and my head pounded. Reflecting only allowed anger to boil up inside me.

My wife and I were temporarily living in unpleasant circumstances (with a relative). While not easy, we had no choice. Different personalities and routines have a way of crashing into each other when two independent families are thrown together.

When three more family members arrived for a visit and a three day sleepover in an already overcrowded house, it was more than we could take. Unkind words, hurt feelings and slammed doors erupted. Retreating to separate rooms and “running to town to pick up something” simply couldn’t resolve the issues. Rehearsing the situation only made it worse. I knew I had to release it and the offender to God.

Conflict is a part of life. Imagining we’ll always get along with everyone-even our family members, is wishful and foolish thinking. Paul gives us the key to resolution when conflict evolves. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13).

Forgiveness is the key to unity. Rehearing injustices committed against us can lead to tension, anxiety, outbursts of anger, unkind words, making plans for revenge, acts of violence and even physical and emotional ailments.

Releasing the person (forgiving) who has wronged us keeps all of the above at bay. Forgiveness should be instantaneous and continual and may have to be repeated in order for it to “stick.”

Releasing those who harm us physically, emotionally and financially isn’t easy but it’s possible when we remember how much God has forgiven us. Who needs your forgiveness?

Prayer: God who forgives all sins, enable us to forgive those who need it most.

Labels:

Comments

  1. MeredithJune 12, 2015 at 10:57 AM

    A beautiful reminder! Thanks so much for linking up at the Manic Mondays blog hop!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Martin WilesJune 13, 2015 at 7:43 AM

      Thanks Meredith for your encouraging response.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Obeying God’s Schedule - Martin Wiles

Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” Matthew 9:22 NLT Schedules are made to be broken. According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test, I’m a judger. I like structure and organization. While I can be spontaneous on occasion, it’s not my preferred way of life. I’m also time conscious. I’ve been wearing a watch since I was in first grade. Schedules are important, and I like to be ahead of time for whatever the agenda holds. Keeping and checking off a list gives me an adrenaline rush. In college, I completed all my projects ahead of time. Some of these traits were inborn, but being the firstborn child and living with parents who had similar traits made it certain I’d be a judger.  John’s gospel, especially, makes it evident that Jesus journeyed on a divine schedule. Many were told not to tell that he had healed them or cast out their demons simply because Jesus didn’t want his ministry to end p...
16 comments
Read more

Bears or Gators? Believer or Non-Believer? - Melissa Henderson

So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:21 NIV   “What do you mean there are gators in the neighborhood?”  Moving from central Virginia to South Carolina's Lowcountry brought new adventures. Learning about alligators, blue skinks, armadillos, and other creatures led to excitement but also a bit of worry. One of the most interesting parts of living in a new state was adapting to the weather and different animals. Would we prefer the bears of Virginia or the gators of the South? As my husband and I became accustomed to the humidity and scorching heat of the Deep South, we began referring to ourselves as “South Carolinians.” We laughed as we noticed folks wearing long-sleeved shirts and coats when temperatures reached sixty degrees in the Lowcountry. In Virginia, that temperature was...
10 comments
Read more

Connecting to the Creator - Martin Wiles

It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Revelation 1:10 NLT I’ve done it all my life—whether I wanted to or not. Going to church was never an option. Dad was a preacher, and PK’s went to church … often. Our particular church tradition held services three times weekly, in addition to special activities on other days. I had to attend each one. After moving out, I had the option of going, but still went. When my parents made me go, I sometimes didn’t want to. But when I could stay home, I rarely did. Worship is what the apostle John did on the Lord’s Day. As he did, God spoke to him and told him to write things that would happen in the future. Things God’s people needed to hear and respond to. Beyond everything else, worship concerns giving God the glory and praise He deserves. He is our creator and deliverer, and we should celebrate that through worship. But worship involves us also. We have needs that require attention and decisions that deman...
1 comment
Read more