Friday Fight 27 - Recovered or Always Recovering?

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF27.

What do we do when conflict arises? Most of the time, we isolate ourselves and commence operation "self-care" while assessing the situation. Let's unpack this awareness together, helping us learn to fight better.

Recovered or Always Recovering?

Often, when painful conflict arises, we begin questioning our position, value, or God's plan. Perhaps it's corporate structural changes, relational conflicts, or struggles in a church. Typically, when any dispute arises, we begin pulling back and concentrating on ourselves. We may even seek employment elsewhere or stop attending church for a bit. Maybe this self-care model involves doing things that hinder our spiritual growth and cause us to remain in a place that doesn't address the hurt.

Yes, we've removed ourselves, but as my pastor says, we need to recover; we can't always be in recovery. But if it's not binge-watching Netflix, long baths, or hours in the gym, how do we find comfort after conflict?

The Apostle Paul teaches us about comfort in suffering. Focusing inward prevents growth by emphasizing our pain. Instead, concentrating on loving God and others allows us to feel God's comfort and how He uses His children to bring comfort to one another. So, the next time conflict arises, let's try to take the minutes we need, then intentionally focus outward rather than inward.

How does darkness work? Satan works to deceive, divide and destroy. He uses conflict to manipulate isolation to keep us broken and alone. Our idea of self-care keeps extending, resulting in the opposite of God's Word. Doors of temptation open to our flesh, leaving us vulnerable to addictive and self-destructive behavior.

How do we fight? Take the needed time but not unknowingly continue in long-term self-focus, leaving us spiritually stagnant. Let's not allow darkness to devour us slowly.

Let's recover from our hurts by focusing on God and others, and not always be recovering. Doing this allows God to move in our suffering and bring healing.

2 Corinthians 1:3

Pastor Shannon

New Life Calvert