When a man’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Proverbs 16:7 ESV
This is another of the proverbs that may cause one to question its accuracy. Or, to question our own fidelity to the Lord. Have you been in that spot where you are at odds with someone, and no matter what you do he/she will not be reconciled? And by “no matter what you do” I mean you have apologized, you have released the person from guilt/blame, you have accepted your own responsibility for the breach, you have prayed, you have begged God for help, you have repented before God, etc., etc., etc. Yet, reconciliation never comes.
On the one hand we might be tempted to say, “we must remember that proverbs are general truths, not iron clad guarantees.” And that is true, but sometimes leaves us feeling a bit empty. On the other hand, we can look at the bigger picture and see that “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble” (Proverbs 16:4).
If we have done everything imaginable to be at peace with an adversary and that person will not reconcile, then perhaps they are among the wicked and are playing their part. We can be confident that even in the midst of trials and hardships, we are called to be kind and generous, even to our enemies. Perhaps, that is an area in which God desires us to grow, so he is not bringing about reconciliation.
Would you be okay with that scenario? If not, why not?
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