“When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.”  Psalm 32:3

Confrontations

Generally, I hate confrontation. I tend to shove most conflict to the “way-back burner”, hopefully never to be seen or heard from again. Unfortunately, that sometimes isn’t the Lord’s way of dealing with things. No, eventually He blazes in like the cavalry for a right-proper inspection and says, “What’s this over here?”

Oh, just a little something I’ve been sweeping under the rug. It’s better there, really. Who wants to stir things up? Besides, it will involve being really honest with someone about something and I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings or jeopardize our friendship. Perfect common sense, right?

Wrong. As long as I am sweeping something under the rug that needs the light of day, I end up hindering my growth and possibly someone else’s. Strangely, I can “do life” and function semi-fine on autopilot by not addressing this burr in my saddle, this thing that won’t leave me in my quiet moments alone. Surprisingly though, it jabs me when I least expect it, and I continue to wander around in a daze trying to figure out what’s wrong. As a result, my peace has up and left the building.

But if I truly settle myself down and get really, REALLY honest with God and myself, I can clearly see what has to be done. Oh, it definitely may be uncomfortable, but it’s the right thing. We are called to “speak the truth in love” and by God’s strength and wisdom, we are able! There are times that by keeping silent, like David said in Psalm 32, our bones only waste away.

So, with a knotted-up belly and clammy palms, I had the dreaded conversation. Then, and only then, the LIGHT of day burst into the room and there was peace, glorious peace…finally. Why on earth had I waited so long to speak? We both left feeling lighter, floating along held up by the arms of our Father in heaven. It felt like a clean slate, a new beginning, and radical rejuvenation!

“Dear Lord, please help us when it comes time to confront in love, seasoning our words with grace and mercy. Help us not to wait so long to face the truth of a situation that our bones begin to waste away. Restore our peace once again so we may go forth to do Your work in Your way. Thank You, Jesus, for pointing out all the stuff on our “back-burners” so we can be free! Amen!”