Am I ready to have difficult conversations?

One of the exciting things when dating and in the early stages of a relationship is that you have so many firsts - the first time you felt you clicked, the first time you opened up and the first time you had to have a difficult conversation. As daunting as it may seem, difficult doesn’t necessarily mean bad.

Before being ready to have a difficult conversation, respect for the other person is paramount. Each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made and we must start from a place of love. God knew us and loved us before we were even born and His love accepts us as we are, but doesn’t leave us there.

So how do we ready ourselves to make difficult conversations a little easier? Well, Ephesians 6 gives us the perfect recipe. The “evil day” mentioned by Paul can be likened to that first day of broaching a hard topic. Let's allow the principles in the passage to shape our thinking and our words:

1. Verse 14 - Be truthful. Why do you feel the way you do? Are you speaking the truth in love?
2. Verse 14 - Be righteous. Do your words and approach please God?
3. Verse 15 - Pursue peace. Are you eager to find a respectful way to navigate any difference or conflict?
4. Verse 16 - Have faith. Love believes the best in people.
5. Verse 17 - Have the Word. Can you find counsel or guidance on the topic in the Bible?
6. Verse 18 - Pray. Pray for a meek and humble heart.

If you do these things, you’ll find that you’re speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). The most amazing thing about that is that through speaking in love, you are brought into the fellowship and the unity of the faith. Love truly does conquer all, and even in the hardest of conversations, with God, you will come out victorious.

Let’s pray… Dear God. Thank you for giving me the wisdom to have hard conversations. I pray for boldness to speak the truth in love, and humility to walk in the way of peace. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.