Conflict

Is it possible to go through a day without some sort of conflict? I have been wondering about this ever since we spent a week last month at a family camp in one 12x15' room with 2 adults and four children, with wall to wall "beds" and suitcases!!

All things considered, the week went really well...........almost!! Except for one exceptional night of conflict. One of the grandchildren was way out of sorts and just had to let it all out. It happens, you know!! And that is what precipitated my thoughts down this runway!! I call it a runway, because my tendency is to want to just "take off" and leave it all behind, hoping (I guess) it will resolve itself. But, at my "mature" age, I know better!!

So, since that time, I have just been so much more aware of the instances of conflict in day to day life. Even in my reading in the Psalms the past couple of weeks, it has just jumped off the pages. And now I am preparing lessons to teach Ephesians in a few weeks and have been struck by the reason for Paul's writing Ephesians............to give the news that the "wall of conflict" had been torn down by the blood of the cross..........the wall that separated Jew and Gentile for millenniums.

There are the personal conflicts that are from within.........everything from what to eat, where to eat, what to buy to eat and what not to buy to eat, who will eat what and who won't, .....then let's go to clothing, or housework, or homework, or yardwork, or just "work". On and on it goes. Conflict can occur in small things and in huge issues.............like Health Care!!! Or taxes!! Or religion!!

But, when I went into my sanctuary...........my quiet place ("A glorious throne on high from the beginning Is the place of our sanctuary." Jeremiah 17:12) ........meditating on some Scripture, the LORD reminded me (from Ephesians) that HE Himself is our peace. He is the end of all conflict. Eph 2:14, 17. He preached peace to those who were far off...........Gentiles.........and to those who were near............Jews. In other words, Jesus preached Peace to everyone. Peace is the absence
of conflict.

Back to that night of conflict in our tiny room, I understand why I had this overwhelming, urgent need to pray. It was the only way Peace would be brought near!! Thank You, Jesus, my Prince of Peace!!!