Soulfood

Ste Casey

Conflict is emotionally exhausting and it is inevitable wherever there are people. We need help to go through conflict in a way that tells the story of who God is.

Trauma gives us wisdom. Asking gives us wisdom.

James 3:13-18 – we live in tension between being dragged down by the world and being lifted up into the heavens above.

Dragged down by the world coming up to grab us – bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, boastful, false to the truth, earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Lifted up above by heaven coming down to support us – purity, peaceableness, gentleness, reasonable, merciful, fruitful, harvesting righteousness

Wisdom and understanding is being able to balance all the elements of conflict to effect a peaceful outcome.

Wisdom is meek – always seeking correction and growth.

The earthly pull calls us to win. Winning is the thing. It feels good and right and it’s easy, there is a desire to be strong and assert power.

The heavenly supported person has no need to prove himself. Loving supersedes winning. Showing Christ is enough.

Wisdom is not something that you know, wisdom is someone Whom you show.

Meekness isn’t softness or cowardice. It is weaponized weakness intended to build the kingdom! I realize I am a recipient of grace and mercy and love and I don’t need to be justified in the eyes of others. Winning is not my basic need when I am meek.

We are double-souled. Bitter jealousy controls our emotions. We often blind ourselves to the object of our ambitions – we think we are working for others but really we are serving our own ends.

What charges my emotions? Are my triggers pure? Or am I acting earthly, fleshly, and demonic? What is controlling me as I enter conflict?

Matt 4:3 the temptations – will I take the easy way out? or will I go the way of the cross? Walking through will tell a gospel story.

How we battle matters. Do I wish to be able to sit down with this opponent afterwards and share a meal?

We have to risk taking the hurt by being gentle and kind.

Yielding is better than winning, for it shows Christ.

Mercy is kindness in action. Wisdom from above is not seeking to give people what they deserve but rather what they need.

God will take us into conflict we did not intend to enter in order to produce in us fruit which otherwise would never grow.

If we are seeking to reach a point where we don’t need God’s grace, we will always be frustrated. We will always need God’s grace. Conflict helps teach us our need for grace in Jesus.