Hearing Through Reconciliation

By Kerry Hasenbalg
“He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake” –Psalm 23:3

The Shepherd promises to lead us, His sheep, in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. How can we be attuned to His voice so that we might walk in those paths for His glory and for the sake of the orphans whom God has called us to love?

Perhaps the reason we are not hearing God is found in our lack of genuine love and forgiveness towards one another—towards those around us.  We have put up barriers between us and the body of Christ, and now we can no longer hear Him who is the head of the Body. Are we choosing to be so contentious and judgmental that we have brought turmoil to our own houses, and consequently, our husband redeemer has been forced to the far corners of our lives?  And now we can no longer make out what He is saying from the corner of the rooftop? 

We ask God, “Why won't you empower our work in ministry, why won’t you speak to us and dwell with us, your bride?”  Perhaps God is answering us by saying, “Because while you are choosing to be contentious and argue with one another, it is better for me, your husband redeemer, to live on the corner of the rooftop.  I have not divorced you, but I cannot dwell with you. This is because you will not choose love, unity, forgiveness, considering others better than yourself, speaking the truth in genuine love, and making allowance for the faults of others.  For these are the tools I have shared with you, so that you could bring peace to my home. And still you choose to wrongly control me with your self-pity, judgment of others, impatience and self-exaltation. As a result you bring strife and depression to my house.  I still choose to love you because of the covenant I made with you, and I am a faithful husband, so I will not choose another. However, as I have told you, it is better for me to live on the corner of the roof of my own dwelling place than to dwell with you (Prov. 21:9).  Please remember that while you continue to choose your own selfish ways, my children are being left unattended and are being harmed!”

For our own sake, for the sake of God’s children, and for His name’s sake, may we choose to humble ourselves, repent of our sins, forgive one another, and then step out in genuine love for others.  God has clearly told us that those who are in Christ are our brothers and sisters, so we cannot disown them if we are to stay in the family ourselves.  God has also clearly told us that He is the Father to the fatherless, and if we are His bride, they are our children also.  Just as we desire our own households to be at peace and for our children to get along, so too is this God’s great desire for His family.  If we will help bring peace to the Father’s house, He will come and dwell with us and begin to tell us wonderful things. 

Comments

[tami]

Thank you so much for writing this! And I thank God for giving it to you.!
I have been married for eight years, and I have come a long way in my role as a wife. I've gone from very contentious with him, to mostly harmonious, by the grace of God. God has also helped reconcile my relationship with my earthly father. As a teen I was very contentious with him. In my twenties, I was contentious, but more covertly. Now, I can truly listen to him and receive his wise counsel. I enjoy my relationship with these two men very much.
However, I have really questioned lately why I am not hearing God like I used to. This post helped me to see that I am very contentious with other members of the Body. I think I have justified it because I have been wronged. But deep down, I knew that God wanted me to give up my right to be angry, and forgive. My rebellion in this area has caused great hurt to me personally, in every way, including my physical health. And it has also hurt those who are in Christ.
The pain that I've caused in two specific relationships seems to be beyond what I can remedy. I'm really praying that God will help me do what I can do, and that I will trust Him to do what only He can do.
Realizing how I have hurt the Lord and pushed Him away is very upsetting. And I hope that it is the amunition I need to finally see some victory in this long battle.
Pray for me.
And realizing that my attitude is probably the reason why my husband's ministry to orphans has moved forward slowly is another motivation to truly repent.
I am weak, but I have to still believe that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.