SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE


A Scripture devotional can be so powerful, but where do we begin? Getting started reading the Bible is tricky… so we’ve compiled verse reflections like this one with a Bible verse for today to help us connect with God in everyday moments.

I Just Want to Be Mad for Awhile

When it comes to friends messing up, we’ve probably all thought to ourselves, “I just want to be mad for a while.” When anger and grief are setting in, reconciliation and overcoming anger with God can be the farthest things from our mind. We want to be mad, because it feels deserved.

But the good news is, anger and grief aren’t signs that reconciliation isn’t going to happen. Sometimes, they’re just part of the journey to getting there.

In Maggie’s devotional below, she shares one thing she’s learned that helps the process go a little smoother.

2 Corinthians 2:8

 “I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.”

Written by Maggie Fields

What do you do when the thought of reconciling with someone who hurt you fills you with burning anger and grief? This is a question I had to answer recently.

When I realized I had let bitterness and anger take root in me toward a lifelong friend, I didn’t know what to do. We scheduled a time to talk, and I found myself trying to cancel the conversation only hours beforehand. Honestly, I didn’t want a restored relationship. I wanted to say my piece and leave.

I knew this wasn’t right, so I told God all the reasons I was angry and all the ways I felt hurt. I asked him to speak to my weakness and pain. He led me to 2 Corinthians 2:8. Paul writes to the Corinthian church about resolving a conflict, urging them to “reaffirm their love” for the man who had wronged them.

That was my answer. It was also the last thing I wanted to do.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that as I shared all that had been weighing me down with my friend, I felt overwhelmed with love for him. It didn’t erase my pain or heal my wounds, but I felt lighter, and I joyfully affirmed my love for my friend.

Why It Matters

As followers of Christ, we are called to love others, even when it costs us. When Christ was arrested to be crucified, instead of defending himself, he chose love. He chose to die for the sins of the world. He even asked God to forgive the ones who killed him (Luke 23:34). Christ’s selfless acts brought reconciliation and freedom to all humanity. Now, we have the opportunity to imitate Christ, and give the gift of reconciliation to all involved.

 

Searching for another Bible verse with reflection? We have more simple devotions to connect with God in the ordinary, extraordinary, and everyday moments of life. Click here to check them out!