Negotiating Sticky Situations

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. EPHESIANS 4:2 NIV

Loving others in meekness and through longsuffering is undoubtedly a high goal to achieve. However, as we journey through life, we will encounter people who are diﬃcult to deal with, leading to relationships that were once secure becoming mineﬁelds. In such situations, navigating without a detonation can be challenging.

The solution lies in relying on the help of the Holy Spirit, who was designed by God to help us be more like Jesus, humble and gentle, and to help us put up with each other in patience and love. Reﬂecting on recent situations where our actions lacked humility, patience, and love can lead us to confess to God for redemption and restoration.

It is essential to remember that God’s love for us will never fail. His patience is eternal, and nothing will ever separate us from His love. Therefore, we must thank God for His love and consider past experiences where He used others to show us love through patience and gentleness. In turn, we should strive to love others through the same.

God wants us not only to succeed but also to thrive and have happy and healthy relationships. He died to give us the power to overcome sin and live according to His Word. Therefore, it’s crucial to reach out to God for guidance and ask the Holy Spirit to help us relate to the people around us in love.

As God instructs us to bear with one another in love through humility, gentleness, and patience, our aim should be to sustain unity and peace. We should be encouraged because we are not alone in this mission. The Holy Spirit is always there to help us and guide us. He will never leave or abandon us—and because of Him, we can do this.

We strive to love others in meekness and through longsuﬀering, relying on the help of the Holy Spirit. By doing so, we can maintain happy and healthy relationships while promoting unity and peace.

PRAYER

God, I worship You for who You are. I will love You with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my might. For You who knew no sin became sin so that I might become the righteousness of God. Your power is infinite, yet You oppose the proud and give grace to the humble. Before the foundations of the earth were established, You called me by my name. You alone are worthy to be praised! Amen.

This is an excerpt from Morning Gratitude: Inspiring Moments to Start Your Day by Pray.com – a devotional now available on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.