One thing that God has been teaching me is how important family is -- that this is where we grow as we deal with conflicts, this is where we learn how to minister to others. The Bible is full of instances in which people fall apart due to broken families, and God is persistent in bringing redemption in their stories. I think this is one of the reasons why we get attacked in our spiritual family, in the church, because we work, live, and serve so closely with each other and it's easy to become vulnerable and hurt. We're motivated by our own interests and pursue our own goals, and our selfish nature comes out a lot in spite of the ministry that we would like to advance. A lot of times we're misunderstood, or unable to clearly communicate our goals and feelings, and end up hurting, so we retaliate with bitterness.
I've realized that it's important for me to come back to my identity as God's child. When I feel attacked, it's because I'm letting other people's words and perspectives take priority over what God thinks of me. In my "easy" relationships, everything about myself is being satisfied and my own goals are met; in my "difficult" relationships, the other person doesn't understand me, I don't get what I want, and our needs and personalities constantly clash. It's especially hard with a brother or sister in the church, because I naturally assume that we have the same "spiritual goals" and it's hard for me to understand why they are doing something different. It's in these moments that I have to stop and humble myself, that there is a lot more I have to learn, and that these relationships are most precious when I am being strengthened and sharpened.
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