There was conflict. There was disagreement. There was pain.
He had his opinion, I had mine. I thought I was right, and he, too, thought that he was right.
Somehow, we had to keep working together. I was hurting because he didn’t see my point, and because I felt like he didn’t care. He was hurting, because he felt criticized, or misunderstood, or something like that, I imagine.
Somehow, we had to move on. We had to keep working together.
It was painful. It was painful that he didn’t see my point, but also that our relationship wasn’t what it used to be. It was painful because there was something between us that was difficult to look past.
I felt misunderstood. I miscommunicated.
I was hurt. He was hurt.
It’s what happens when people come together, isn’t it? The way God created us differently is beautiful and glorious – it’s what makes life interesting. But it’s also annoying and painful – and it’s what makes life difficult.
It happens time and again that we collide with others because of our differences. Whether those differences stem from personality, character, experience, or whether it’s a mere matter of opinion: Wherever people are, we collide.
Through it all, we are still called to love people. Exactly those people. To follow Jesus’ example and accept and love all people. Exactly those people. Love the person who doesn’t share your opinion. Love the person who refuses to budge. Love the person who does something you struggle with. Exactly. that. person.
But that in itself is a struggle. It’s a struggle to continue to love people when they hurt you, to put your pride and disagreements aside, and love and accept them the way they are.
I struggle greatly. I fail many times.
I don’t want to fail, don’t plan to fail, but I fail repeatedly. And I condemn myself because I think I should really do better.
But then I remember that He is absolute truth. Absolutely just. He knows what is right or wrong, who is right or wrong, who has done right or wrong. He knows whether there is even a right or a wrong. Maybe there isn’t. It doesn’t matter.
What truly matters is how I treat people. How I follow God’s Word. How I love people.
I hear those voices that want justice, want to be understood, want to be compensated for the pain. They lead me to not act lovingly, think lovingly, behave lovingly.
They lead me to miss the loving. But there is someone that never misses to love.
Jesus always loves.
He never fails to bring truth and justice into my life, He never fails to love, because He is greater than all the things I ever do or think or say. Whether that is today, or someday in the future. He will come through.
When we condemn, He is greater. When we fail to love, He is greater. When we fail to follow, He is greater. When we fail to listen, He is greater.
He is always greater, and when we don’t think we’re worth it, then He covers us with His mercy, because He is greater than any mess we are ever able to create.
He let’s us approach His throne of grace, because of His grace.
So, in times like these, times when I struggle to love well, to follow His commands to love anybody and everybody – even those we disagree with – I hold on to this. To Him.
Because He is greater than it all.
Hence, this song.
