It had been a crazy morning. My husband was sleeping in, having been on call the night before and spent most of the night working. My middle daughter, Lindsey, was sick and needed to stay home from preschool. I was about to walk out the door to take Kenny and Jessica to preschool.
I knew that my husband probably needed a couple more hours of sleep. So I said to Ellie and Lindsey, “Girls, your daddy needs to sleep. I need to take the kids to school. What I need for both of you to do is to stay here and be quiet until I get back. Just watch TV, and don’t wake up Daddy unless there’s an emergency.”
There. That just about covered it, except for one thing. “Ellie,” I added, “if there are any arguments, or anything goes wrong between you two, just let it go. Let Lindsey win the argument if you have to, and I’ll settle things when I get back.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ellie said.
I knew I was asking Ellie to do a hard thing. As I closed the door behind us, I hoped that she would do what I’d asked.
And I realized that what I was asking her to do is the same thing God asks us to do.
We’re to try to get along with each other until His Son returns. If we can’t, then let things go. Know that He will return, and be confident that He will make all things right in the end.
It sounds simple. And it is. But it’s not easy.
When someone wrongs us, we don’t want to let it go. We want things to be right now. Why should we have to bear with injustice? Don’t we have the right to insist that other people treat us rightly?
Granted, there are some offenses that cannot and should not be overlooked. Certain wrongdoing or conflict should result in punishment and consequences, or at least a serious discussion.
But most of what we get angry or upset about isn’t worth the emotional energy we put into it. Most of it really doesn’t matter. Many things that we bring up to others in an attempt to get them to act “right” could probably equally well be left unsaid.
When something does matter, it is right to attempt to resolve the issue with the other person involved. Many times, this approach settles the issue. But sometimes, it doesn’t. What will we do then? Will we let ourselves become incensed and bitter? Will we keep the issue alive until the other party sees things our way?
Or will we let it go, and let Jesus settle things when He returns?
It’s hard to let people’s real or perceived sins against us go by the wayside without some sort of recompense to ourselves. It can feel like we’re being taken advantage of, or letting people “get away with” something.
But none of us truly gets away with anything. Someday, we’ll all answer for what we’ve done. That person who offended you will answer for it. She may not answer today, when you want her to. But she will answer—to God Himself.
So do your best to get along with others. When conflict can’t be successfully resolved, consider just letting it go. It’ll be taken care of at the right time, by God Himself.
Our Father will settle it when Jesus returns.
1 Peter 4:8—Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Romans 12:18—If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.