Using Godly Wisdom

The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

I was angry. Someone had been saying hurtful things about my family, and it had been going on for quite some time. Finally, when I felt it needed to be addressed, I called the person, asking if they had time to meet.

As I made my way over to their apartment, I prayed, asking God to be in the midst of our conversation, and then I spent some time thinking about what might be going on in their life that could be causing them angst or hardship. I tried to put myself in their shoes, reminding myself of their humanity and the struggles I knew they were facing.

When I arrived and rang the doorbell, my heart was hurting but not angry. With shaking hands and a trepidatious smile, I accepted their invitation inside and sat down. As we talked about insignificant things, I looked for the right moment to begin.

I started by telling the person how much they meant to me and how I valued them as a person. And then I honestly shared how it felt to have them say hurtful things. I explained from my perspective what I saw happening and asked them how they saw things.

They were honest, laying out the situation from their perspective. We spent time each saying what we thought and then made a plan for moving forward. It wasn’t perfect, but as I left, I felt a peace and gratitude that we had been able to have an open and honest conversation.

Conflict is never easy; for many of us, it’s something we try to avoid. But as Christians who have access to godly wisdom, we don’t have to shy away from discord. Instead, we should be willing to speak with wisdom that is peace loving, gentle, and willing to yield and consider others. We should be merciful and sincere. It’s not always easy, but I’m thankful that when we apply godly wisdom, no matter the outcome, we can trust that God is pleased with our efforts.

Kendra

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Use the godly wisdom of James 3:17 in a challenging relationship.