God Uses Conflict

I am not a big fan of conflict.  I don't know many people that are.

Yet, one thing I learned in my communication classes in college is that in any human relationship or interaction, conflict is inevitable and unavoidable.  In fact, I teach in my marriage counseling that conflict, and how we handle it, can even strengthen our marriages.

Conflict is not always a bad thing.  Through conflict, we see new points of view.  We grow as we weather the storm. We even strengthen our resolve.

And, at time, God brings conflict into your life in order to move you from where you are to where he wants you to be.

That's what happened with the Israelites.  In Exodus 14, we see that God moves to the Jewish people to the once place that means an unavoidable conflict with Egypt.  Surrounded by the Egyptian army, an impassible terrain and the Red Sea, Israel is forced into a confrontation with the Egyptian army.  They have no where to run and ultimately must listen to God as he directs them to cross the Red Sea.

Two things stand out.  One: God intentionally manuevered them into this conflict. Two: In order to survive, they had to leave Egypt behind - emotionally, spiritually and physically.  Only then could God begin to mold them into his covenant people.

Sometimes  God brings conflict into our lives to move us to where he wants us to be.  Perhaps we've grown too comfortable with our surroundings.  Maybe we're reluctant to change.  It's even possible that we're not really listening to his calling.  So, in order to get our attention, and move us along, God may choose to bring conflict into your life.

You have to decide why and what God is trying to do.  Then, like the Israelites, you have to listen and you have to move.  Only by leaving your fears behind can you actually move forward to what God has planned.

What are you waiting for?  Go!

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