Connection with Christ: our Comfort in Conflict

Conflict is a gift.

But discovering this gift requires an intentional desire for an intimate connection with Christ. 

Many are familiar with pressures that feel as if they will crush us: Secularism, non-stop demands of others, how to reflect Christ in a non-Christian world, staff and board disputes, unrealistic expectations, how to balance a healthy home life while maintaining our professional responsibilities, strained relationships, financial concerns, how to navigate inflation, and more.

Our stress can drive us to want to “do” more to relieve the pressure. But purity, faithfulness, kindness, faith, and endurance are the diamonds God reveals through our pressure. We can quickly forget that Christ is more interested in our “being” than our “performance.” 

Understandably, we may attempt to eliminate or reduce conflict. But the gift(s) we receive because of conflict requires us to endure the distress.

Not only do I need to be comforted in my distress, but others also need consolation in their conflict. God has allowed conflict to prepare me to be a source of comfort to you and others.

If, like me, you believe avoiding conflict at all costs is best, you are more likely to view dissension as negative. It may be challenging to know how any benefit is possible in conflict. Too often, when we discover that disagreements happen in the church, we are shocked. After all, shouldn’t followers of Jesus live peacefully with each other?

We do not live in a conflict-free world. It’s not realistic to think we can go through life without experiencing conflict. But conflict is inevitable and necessary to advance the kingdom of God. 

This is an excerpt from my upcoming book, The Gift of Conflict: The Art of Biblical Reconciliation, which will be published in Fall of 2024. You can register here to receive updates about the launch of this book and its accompanying curriculum!

I pray that this book helps you see conflict as a gift to help us learn, develop and grow, as well as understanding how to practically think through conflict and come to peace.

-Richard Parrish