Rebuilding Relationships

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy. — Hebrews 12:14

Is there a relationship you need to rebuild? Too often people are filled with regret and guilt because they failed to reach out to someone with whom they were at odds — and then death intervenes and it’s too late. Don’t let this happen to you.

If a broken relationship comes to mind, know that the place to begin is within yourself. Are you convinced that rebuilding this relationship is something God wants you to do?

Then let the person know that you care, and that you want your relationship to be different. Don’t use words alone; back up your words with action. A small gift or an invitation to dinner can show that you mean what you say.

Most of all, seek God’s forgiveness for anything you did to harm the relationship, and trust Him to help you both set aside the past. Don’t argue about the past or who was at fault; that only reopens old wounds. Instead, focus on your hopes for the future. Change may take time, but with God’s help it can happen.

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Easier Said Than Done

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. — Romans 12:18

God’s will is for us to live at peace with everyone — but sometimes the door to a broken relationship seems closed forever. The marriage has died or the children are rejecting you… Your father abandoned your family or your disapproving mother has cut off all contact… A business partner has turned away in anger or a former friend wants nothing to do with you.

If someone rejects us and absolutely refuses to have anything to do with us, we can’t force them to change. But we can — and should — do everything we can to keep the door open to a possible reconciliation.

We shouldn’t strike back or condemn; instead, we should let them know we still care, and that we hope someday his or her attitude will change. And if we were at fault — even in small ways — we need to admit it and ask for forgiveness.

We also should pray. We can’t change the person we’re estranged from, but God can. Even when the door seems firmly closed, God is able to open it. Do all you can to restore that broken relationship — and trust God for the outcome.

Excerpted with permission from Wisdom for Each Day by Billy Graham, copyright Billy Graham Literary Trust.

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Your Turn

Do you have a friendship or family relationship that has been torn apart? Do you need to forgive someone? Do you need to apologize and make amends? First, take it to the Lord and ask Him if it’s something that He wants you to repair or if He’s protecting you from this person. Then, if He nudges you, do your part. And trust! Come share your thoughts with us on our blog. We want to hear from you about reconciliation! ~ Devotionals Daily