Full Circle

Comfortable and convenient are not words we associate with arguments or disagreements. It seems sometimes that just when we feel we are on the right path, something changes.  So, we must be prepared for the difficult times too, even as we enjoy some pleasant, if not prosperous seasons.

We all have them, both types. In Disney's movie The Lion King, this journey is called 'the circle of life'. A few of the lyrics contain these thoughts:

It's the circle of life

And it moves us all

Through despair and hope

Through faith and love

We will find ourselves living these words at one time or another. Rough times turn into smooth sailing which once again will encounter churning waters. Be it friendships, families, and even organizations. There are seasons of despair and then hope, faith and love. The way to survive it and be even better and stronger on the other side is by relying on God and hunkering down in His Presence.

Acts 14:21-22 (NIV)
They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

Conflict is a given and because we are all wired differently we process things in a variety of ways. The way you see something might be totally different from my view. That is normal. But conflict doesn't have to mean disunity, or just plain quitting and walking away. It means we need to meet it, greet it, and get over it! Having a close relationship with Jesus will show us how to do this and do it with style and dignity.

Acts 14:21-25