Conflict is a part of life. Your order gets messed up at the fast food place - conflict. Your words get twisted and taken out of context - conflict. You make a joke and without realizing it, offend someone - conflict. Your spouse asks you to do something and you forget - conflict. Your unhappy at your job - conflict.
I could keep going on and on, but I think you get the point. And have you noticed what the common denominator is? PEOPLE. Conflict occurs because we are all different and we all bring different perspectives to every situation in life. And that perspective is what either extinguishes the conflict at hand or makes it worse. Let me share what I mean...
This past week I spoke with Pakistani Evangelist Imran Sadiq. His country has been in much turmoil recently with suicide bombings going on all around and within a close distance to his base of ministry. Many have been killed and wounded. Thousands have been displaced. Conflict has run rampant.
So what has Imran done during this very real conflict? He has expanded his ministry outreach to feed the displaced, provide medical care to those that need it, and start a new church to reach those that are rocked by the conflict in Pakistan! WOW - what a perspective. When most of us, probably including myself, would be staying indoors, playing it safe, waiting for the conflict to pass, Imran’s perspective is that God is in control and it is time to keep walking with Jesus - especially when conflict abounds!
I was humbled by his testimony and as I shared with him some of the conflict we have been through as a church, he had the grace to encourage me and actually pray for us. What a positive, faith-filled perspective!
So, how has your perspective (outlook) been towards the conflicts you face? God says we are victors, not victims. May our perspective loudly display that reality!
And by the way, I have been so proud of so many of you who have maintained such a positive perspective as we have faced conflict as a church - you have inspired me!
Jane and I love you!
Jeff Powell
