This piece of art is meant to convey the chaotic, messy feeling of a fight: The colors clash into each other, the design swirls and shouts, the dartboard pattern reminds us of conflict and competition.

Think back to your last argument. Do your muscles tense at the memory? Has your mind already started lining up your defenses? Did you feel pressure to justify your stance and win the fight?

Most likely, at some point in that argument, it changed from being a disagreement about a particular topic into a deeper struggle for self-worth. Perhaps you even felt like your value as a human being hung in the balance. 

This piece of art is meant to convey the chaotic, messy feeling of a fight: The colors clash into each other, the design swirls and shouts, the dartboard pattern reminds us of conflict and competition. But peer closely at the very center of the board: God is there, pointing us to a better way. When we remember that He loves us and has promised to fight our battles for us, the pressure to win fades away. The outcome is not in our hands and will not determine our worth. 

When we are confident of God’s love for us, we are less easily offended and more in control of our emotions. We have peace at the very center of our souls, which enables us to handle conflict calmly. 

The Bible has a lot to say about conflict resolution. For example, it teaches us that “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-20). Note that this verse doesn’t forbid all anger. It only admonishes us to turn from human anger. The opposite of human anger is righteous anger. Human anger is focused on selfish gains, but righteous anger seeks peaceful resolutions. 

So, the next time that you are arguing, remember this painting and draw strength from its message: “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:14).

Edited by Alyson Rockhold

Shop: Always Aim for Peace

ADDITIONAL READING PLANS

For more guidance on this topic, explore these plans from the YouVersion Bible App.

• No Offense

• The Unoffendable Heart

• Caring Enough To Confront By David Augsburger

• Wisdom for Peacemaking

• 10 Steps For Dealing With Anger

• The Path of a Peacemaker Devotional By P. Brian Noble

• God Fights For Us