How to Deal with Personal Conflict, Part 3

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

While some have suggested that Paul’s physical eyesight was impaired, his vision of God was perfectly clear. In his troubles, he learned to never focus on his circumstances but instead to turn toward Christ and keep his eyes on the Deliverer and Savior. In this way, he came to know Jesus in the most personal, intimate way possible.

It is a crucial lesson for you to learn as well. Conflict will force you to turn your knowledge about Christ into knowledge of Christ. It will take you out of the theory and study and put you in the furnace of application and reality.

This is good, for the more you know of Christ, the more you will trust Him. When crises push you to Christ, you cry out to Him. He answers you through a Scripture, a word from a friend or Bible teacher, or an arrangement of certain encouraging events.

The more you trust God and see evidence of His faithfulness, the more you love Him. And isn’t this the real goal - to love Him with all your heart and soul? You love Him not just for what He does but for who He is. Knowing God. Trusting God. Loving God. These are the tried and true results of conflict. So no matter what the trouble, you can endure, for God is at work deep within in a dramatic way.

“Growing deep beneath the sod, strife has never conquered mortals who are rooted deep in God.” -Byron Debolt