One minute read.
Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4, Acts 24:1-27, Psalm 4:1-8,, Proverbs 18:16-18
Daily Verse: “The one who states his case first seems right until the other comes and examines him.” Prov. 18:17
Different perspectives.
When you listen to someone give their side in a dispute, it seems logical and correct. However, every story has three perspectives: theirs, ours, and the truth. If you don’t know both sides of the story, you can’t find the truth, which lies somewhere in the middle.
Because we live in a world of narratives, the truth has become more challenging to find. Not only do people tell false tells, but they believe them. God knows we lie to ourselves more than we do anyone else.
For instance, my husband’s working to resolve one of my hospital bills. Insurance said they paid it; the hospital says they haven’t. When Ron called our insurance company, they initiated a conference call with the hospital to resolve the issue by hearing both sides of the story and, in the process, discovering the truth.
Resolving disputes requires cross-examination, listening to both sides of the story, and focusing on the truth. Healthy communication allows us to resolve issues quickly by understanding each other’s perspectives and finding the truth.
Lord, thank You for helping us resolve conflicts with good communication. Lead us in the way of truth as we strive to listen to all sides of the story and not jump to conclusions without sufficient information. IJNIP. Amen
