Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)

After I confronted my friend by email over a matter on which we had differed, she didn’t respond. Had I overstepped? I didn’t want to worsen the situation by pestering her, but neither did I want to leave things unresolved before she went on a trip overseas. As she popped into my mind throughout the following days, I prayed for her, unsure of the way forward. Then one morning I went for a walk in our local park and saw her, pain etched on her face as she glimpsed me. “Thank You, Lord, that I can talk to her,” I breathed as I approached her with a welcoming smile. We talked openly and were able to resolve matters.

Sometimes when hurt or silence intrudes on our relationships, mending them seems out of our control. But as the apostle Paul says in his letter to the church at Ephesus, we are called to work for peace and unity through God’s Spirit, donning the garments of gentleness, humility, and patience as we seek God’s healing in our relationships. The Lord yearns for us to be united, and through His Spirit He can bring His people together—even unexpectedly when we go walking in the park.

Have you experienced an unexpected encounter that revealed God working in a situation? How might you work toward peace and unity today?

When I read this I couldn’t help but think this was meant for me and I pray someone out there is touched as I was. Just today I said to my husband, I just can’t forget what they did and how they chose to handle the situation and my husband’s wise response was, is the frustration and hurt you are harboring in your heart worth missing eternity over and I started to cry, no one or thing or hurt is worth missing eternity over. Then I sit down after a busy day to do the devotion and God drops this right in my lap. So as I face this individual I will choose to work for peace and unity through God’s Spirit, not my own doing, donning the garments of gentleness, humility, and patience as I seek God’s healing in my relationships. My prayer today is that someone reading this can also find closure in a situation and rise above it.

Have a wonderful day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Ephesians 4:1-6