Drama (And How to Deal)نموونە

Shalom and Forgiveness

“She’s driving me crazy. I wish she’d just shut her mouth and quit blabbing my secrets to everyone else.” “He’s so annoying. I can’t be around him because all he does is talk about how much better he is than everyone else.” 

Uh oh. Friendship drama. One person hurts the other. It snowballs. A fight begins. A friendship is at risk of ending for good. Is that it? And what about the next time a friend is rude, unthinking, selfish, or just plain annoying? People make mistakes. You make mistakes. Are you just supposed to dump your friends every time they bother you? And is it okay for your friends to dump you when you bother them? Friendship drama! 

Have you ever heard the word shalom? It’s an old Hebrew word. It’s often translated as “peace,” and that’s mostly how the word is used nowadays. 

But, thousands of years ago, the word was used to describe something that was made complete, without any holes, or like a person with all their needs met. 

The word shalom was also used to describe what happened when two nations stopped warring against one another, and decided to trade with and help one another out instead. 

In the book of Isaiah in the Bible, the prophet said there would come a prince of “shalom,” often translated as a “prince of peace” who would come to earth to make a way for God’s people to be right with Him. Guess who the prophet Isaiah was talking about? 

He was talking about Jesus! 

Jesus is the one who makes us whole. He stops our fighting. His way is our source of forgiveness. He makes our friendship right with God. And living like Jesus can make our friendships with one another have so, so much less drama! Watch this video where a friend of The Loop Show, Kirby, talks about how we can bring the same shalom that Jesus brings to our friendships when things are getting rocky.

So, you’re fighting with a friend. Go to them. Talk it out. Let them know what they did that hurt you. But go to them in love, not trying to make them suffer the way you suffered. Go to them, telling them that you value their friendship and want to make it better. Offer forgiveness! It’s your chance to live out Colossians 3:13-14 that you’re studying in this Bible Plan. 

Ask yourself: Am I holding on to grudges and anger instead of extending forgiveness to the people I know? How can I begin to forgive and bring shalom to my relationships? 

Challenge yourself: Write down anything that you need to forgive. A hurtful word? A rude look? Being left out? Maybe they didn’t realize you were hurt. Maybe they did! Either way, you can extend forgiveness right now and let go of the hurt you’re carrying. 

Pray: God, thank You for forgiving me. Even if I make the same wrong choice a hundred times, You forgive me a hundred times. Help me to forgive others the way You forgive me. Help me to extend forgiveness, even when I don’t want to. Thank You for my friends. Help me to treat them with love and kindness. In Jesus’ name, amen.