Pushing Through the Hard Stuff: Why Humility and Hard Work are Key in Relationships

When we're in the thick of conflict with a friend, it's easy to feel like giving up. It's easy to throw our hands in the air and wonder, "Why bother?" But even though it may not be easy, Christ calls us to love - even when that love means pushing through the hard stuff. So how do we do that? How do we push through when we'd rather give up? The answer lies in humility and hard work.

The Process of Reconciliation Requires Both Humility and Hard Work

If you've ever been in a disagreement or fight with a friend, you know that the process of reconciling is rarely easy. It often requires both humility and hard work. We have to humble ourselves enough to admit when we're wrong, and then we have to put in the hard work required to make things right again. It's not always fun, but it's always worth it.

I remember when…

I remember a time when my best friend and myself were. In a fight, an actual fight on his living room floor. We were rolling and pushing each other around until finally we were exhausted and decided to just lay there next to each other and talk it out. I'll never forget what he said to me at that moment. "I'm sorry," he said, "for everything." It was a humble apology, and it set the tone for the rest of our conversation. We talked through our issues, we forgave each other, and we came out of that fight stronger than ever before. Oh ya, did I mention we were 7 years old and fighting over a GI Joe with the kung fu action grip?

Full of pride then, full of pride now.

We may have been young, but trust me, it was still not easy then to admit that I was wrong and needed to humble myself. It's often harder as we get older to admit when we're wrong. We like to hold on to our pride, even when it's costing us our relationships.

But if we want to push through the hard stuff in our relationships, we have to be willing to humble ourselves. It's not always easy, but it's always worth it. Because when we do, we open up the opportunity for true reconciliation and growth.

The Hard Work of Pushing Through

Besides humility, pushing through the hard stuff in our relationships also requires hard work. It's not enough to just say "I'm sorry" - we have to put in the effort to make things right again. This may mean taking some time apart to cool down, or it may mean sitting down and having a difficult conversation. It might even require going to counseling or therapy together.

Whatever it looks like, the hard work required to push through the hard stuff is always worth it. Because when we do, we end up with stronger, healthier relationships that can weather any storm.

If you're currently in a situation where you're struggling to reconcile with a friend, know that it's okay to not have all the answers. Just take things one step at a time, and be willing to both humble yourself and do the hard work required for reconciliation. It's worth it,

One of the hardest things about reconciling is admitting when we're wrong. We all like to think that we're right all the time, but that's just not realistic. If we're honest with ourselves, there will be times when we need to own up to our mistakes and apologize. And while apologizing isn't always easy, it's always worth it. Because when we do apologize, it shows our friends that we value our relationships with them more than our pride.

The second part of reconciling is making things right again.

This second part usually requires some degree of effort on our part - whether it's reaching out to our friend first or extending an olive branch in some other way. Whatever it looks like, making things right again shows our friends that we're committed to our relationships with them.

Conclusion:

Though learning to love through offense and conflict may not come easy, being committed to pushing through the hard stuff is where the true gold in friendships can be found. The process of reconciling and restoration requires both humility and hard work, but Christ shows the way. Though it might not be easy, His example is always worth following.

P.S.
What other ways have you found helpful in pushing through the hard stuff in relationships? Share your tips (GI Joe with the kung-Fu action grip stories) in the comments below!