Fight for Peace

He said he’d pick up the kids, but then an emergency meeting took priority.

You planned to attend the family reunion, but a work trip was scheduled.

They were supposed to get off early today, but . . .

We quickly learn in this life that we can’t always count on our spouses when their job is counting on them.

And this heats up the strain on the family unit. We are forced to adjust last minute. We work hard and do what it takes to overcome frustration and anger toward our spouses, their work, and the whole world for demanding this of them. And we do our best to comfort those left in the wake of disappointment.

We keep hoping, trying again, moving forward, and being grateful. And we have to work harder to involve our spouses in whatever way when they are available. We do all this in the fight for peace.

Goodbye, my friends. Do better and pay attention to what I have said. Try to get along and live peacefully with each other. Now I pray that God, who gives love and peace, will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11 (CEV)

Paul tells the Corinthians in this letter to get along. The idea is to keep on working at being reconciled in our relationships. It’s never done. Struggles from sin or from circumstances keep coming, so keep offering each other grace and getting back in the battle against the true enemy—the one who wants you fighting against each other.

In life, we see firsthand that it takes active work to keep peace in the world. The same thing goes for our homes. It takes hard work to earn the reward of peace.

So, keep forgiving, adjusting, encouraging, hoping, and trying again. Keep asking God to be the center of your family. His love and peace will follow.

PRAY

Lord, I get so very frustrated with the demands of this life. Please help me to be flexible, forgiving, and forward-moving. I pray you will be with us in our home. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): Does it sometimes make you angry when your parent cannot be available for all of our family activities? If so, what makes you feel that way?

Apply: If it comes up naturally, be open to talking to your children about the disappointment they sometimes feel with their parents' work-life balance or your family’s lifestyle. Let them know you understand. Help them to try to view the circumstances from the outside and then invite them to pray for God’s help in this area.

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Psalm 34:14

2 Peter 3:18