Are You Willing To Suffer For The Sake Of A Relationship?

Ephesians 4:2,3

Sometimes it hurts in order to preserve relationships but it's worth it.

Soul Food

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” 

- Ephesians 4:2,3 (NIV)

Soul Search

• How well do you handle inconveniences that might cause you to suffer?
  How do you rate yourself in your ability to handle discomfort?  

• What situations most cause you some discomfort?
  Is it situations that try your patience?
  Is it having to spend time with people you don’t particularly care for?
  Is it participating in activities you don’t enjoy but those around you do enjoy?
  Can you share any stories?   

• How often do you go ahead and slip into the proverbial ‘bed of suffering’ and how often do you do whatever it takes to avoid it – even to the detriment of otherwise close relationships?  

Soul Moves

• Ask God in prayer to give you the humility and patience needed to willingly suffer for the sake of good of your relationships.    

• When your first thought, in a situation that might bring suffering, is to flee and escape the discomfort, stop for a moment to ask God what He wants you to do.
  If He asks you to take the way of suffering, ask Him for the courage, strength and peace you will need to make that choice.    

• Determine to put others first and to value the relationships you have enough that you are willing to occasionally be inconvenienced and discomforted for the good of the relationship.