Why Is This So Hard?

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

Today, I write from a place of raw emotion. How is it sometimes the people closest to you wound you the most? If God created us for relationships, why are they so hard? At times, friendships prove challenging. Sometimes, family trumps the charts in difficulty. 

God is relational, and when He created us in His image, He made us to live in relationship with Him, others, and nature. But, because sin entered the world with Adam and Eve, every person has a sin nature. 

Because we aren’t perfect beings, there are things that complicate positive connections. 

·      We all have unique personalities. Some we mesh with and some we don’t. 

·      Coping mechanisms we’ve acquired throughout our lives protect against hurts and affect our ability to form powerful connections.

·      If we aren’t allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily walk, it’s harder to set aside our selfishness. Our relationship with Jesus is the most important one we will ever have. When His Spirit lives in us and we depend on Him to guide us, we do a better job loving others. Not perfectly but better than if we lived without Him.

Satan wants to drive a wedge between us and God and others. He wants to isolate us. If he can keep us unaware of a loving God who knocks on the door of our hearts, he will. Don’t let him have his way! 

Our verse today sheds light on another reason relationships are hard; As iron sharpens iron. When sharpening a knife, a harder abrasive substance is used to grind away material, making it sharper. A friend with powerful faith can help strengthen ours, which is good.

However, notice the words like abrasive and grind away. It can be painful when we find areas where we need to grow, which can cause tension in relationships.

Are there relationships in your life that cause you strife? What should be our response? Are we operating out of our sin nature? What is God showing us through trying moments? Let’s lean on His wisdom and strength to find our answers. 

Johna Clemons