On the Same Team

Confession: I butt heads with my mom. I can be particular and independent, she is passionate and involved. We’re both fiery, in our own ways, and stubborn. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. We don’t hit conflict often, but when we do it’s heavy, hurtful and hard for us both.

Yet here’s the truth: When those conflicts hit, Jesus is so kind and faithful to remind me that we are on the same team. It’s not always immediate, but the reminder always emerges. The God of the universe is the Shepard of both of our hearts. God, in His mercy and kindness, has had us walking this path of faith and belief shoulder to shoulder, in almost parallel lengths of time. My faith started becoming my own around the same time the fire started catching for my Mom and we’ve been growing in stride for over a decade now. 

Believers, we will butt heads, become frustrated and impatient and even possibly in conflict with other believers from time to time. That’s not the Jesus in us, that’s the world, but God’s mercy and grace still cover it. He is faithful to remind us that we are teammates and not opponents, if we are willing to open our eyes to His Spirit and His prompting. Like this morning, flipping open a Bible from high school gifted to me from my momma, dated from an impossibly hard and anxiety-inducing season that she was walking next to me and cheering me on through. 

God’s mercy. God’s reminder. God’s team. 

Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:13-14