Meditate | The Time of Conflict

“The time of conflict is when the Lord is at work (for which reason the prophets call a regenerate person the work of God’s fingers [Psalms 8:3, 6; Isaiah 19:25; 29:23; 45:11; 60:21; 64:8; Lamentations 4:2]), and he does not rest until love takes the lead. Then the conflict ends.

When the work progresses so far that faith is united with love, it is called very good, since the Lord now makes us likenesses of himself” (Secrets of Heaven 63).

For some reason (and I’d be curious to know if it’s the same for others), I often fear that love will never return, that I’ll stop loving the people and things in my life and it will never come back. This is how it feels for me in conflict (internal or spiritual conflict). Conflict is one of the most uncomfortable states to be in; I feel totally alone, stuck, helpless, and hopeless. This passage is extraordinarily comforting for how it assures us that those times of conflict are when the Lord is at work and does not rest until love takes the lead. This is a passage much worth repeating throughout my day as a reminder for how I can trust that the Lord actually is leading me to more genuine love even when I am undergoing conflict.  

Comments

[Malcolm]

Thanks for this Chelsea. I've been working on writing something about part of the Jacob story today that seems very related. It's the story of Jacob wrestling with a man. It's remarkable how Jacob wrestles all the way through the night until dawn and still doesn't let go when his hip is put out of joint and still doesn't let go until he gets a blessing.

In times of conflict I often feel, "Why is it necessary for this to go on so long, Lord?" and I can only imagine that Jacob thinking the same sorts of things. And yet, if we know that "The time of conflict is when the Lord is at work... and he does not rest until love takes the lead," we can understand a little more of why it goes on so long. The Lord is getting the job done and that takes time. Last night Abby and I were suctioning snot out of Mara's nose and she was not happy about it and wanted us to stop. But, if we had stopped before we had finished cleaning her nose out, she wouldn't have been able to sleep very well. I wonder how much snot the Lord needs to suction out of me. :)

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He blessed him there. (Genesis 32:24-29)

[Chelsea]

Thanks, Malcolm!

I love seeing the same sort of message illustrated in different ways, especially in the Word. The story of Jacob wrestling adds some new dimensions to the idea and also demonstrates so well the same message.

I also thoroughly appreciate your reference to parenting. I know from similar experience how much babies hate getting snot sucked out--and yet its true, they'd be so much happier in the long run without it! A good analogy for our own times of conflict and the Lord's leading.