Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 18, 2016
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. Proverbs 12:25
Letting someone go at work or trying to correct a friend’s unhealthy habit—having a heated budget or calendar discussion with your spouse or a hard conversation with a truant teenager—all of these scenarios require confrontation. To avoid confrontation when it is necessary, can be unkind—even cruel in some cases. But to confront someone with a caring spirit and helpful attitude is the best approach in dealing with a detrimental issue. It is better to lovingly address a problem early on, while it is fresh, than to ignore and confuse communication. Quick, compassionate confrontation clarifies.
Many people are overweight with anxiety, some obesely so! The frontline of fear is the battle over trust and distrust. Can the Lord be trusted totally or are their occasions to distrust Him? It’s in the middle of these tense, potentially anxious moments that a kind word reminds us of the goodness of God—and our good God can be trusted 100% of the time. Christ followers are kindness ambassadors—for our kind heavenly Father. An attentive word helps shed the weight of worry and replace it with the muscle mass of faith. Compassionate confrontation brings relief.
“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).
The kindness of our heavenly Father leads us to repent and change our behavior. What the Lord wants for us is His best—for our best. God speaks through spirit-filled people and sometimes not so spiritual people! We may not like the sting of a friend or spouse’s insightful comment, regarding what they see as an inappropriate course of action we have planned. Better to be stung in the short-term by a direct, but caring word—than to be shamed in the long-term by a stern, insensitive rebuke. Strong words grow us beyond today—to who we need to become tomorrow.
Are you running so fast at work that you fail to take the time for compassionate confrontation? If you ignore dysfunction it can become a disaster. A co-worker who chronically arrives to work late and leaves early, if not addressed will create team dissension and sabotage a culture of excellence. Gossip, inappropriate jokes, demeaning sarcasm and individuals not reaching their potential, must be addressed swiftly and sensitively. An anxious work environment creates panic and reluctance, but compassionate confrontation facilitates trust and courage. Kindness works.
“May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this” (2 Samuel 2:6).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, when appropriate give me the courage to compassionately confront.Application
Who do I need to sit down with and lovingly share a concern I have?Related Reading
Genesis 39:21; Ruth 1:8; Romans 11:22; Galatians 5:22; Titus 2:5Post/Tweet today
What the Lord wants for us is His best—for our best. #WisdomHunters #compassionateconfrontationWorship Resource
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Hello thank you very good and helpful God is dad and wonderful