(Photo by Linel le Roux in Judean desert south of Jerusalem, Israel 02.06.2026)
A
Broken Relationship, or Something Else?
“Solomon said, “You were extravagantly generous in love with
David my father, and he lived faithfully in your presence, his relationships
were just and his heart right.” 1 Kings 3:6, The Message
We have all experienced the pain and hurt when a
relationship, one we may have long held, no longer continues. Whether it's a
misunderstanding, a lie, an incident one or the other doesn't want to “work it
out,” or even just weariness from struggles that never seem to end, the
friendship is over.
Companies fire employees. Marriages break apart. Parents and
their children walk away from each other in bitterness and resentment. People
leave churches, synagogues, and communities because of a “wrong word” or an
“unforgiving action.” It happens so many times.
I think of those in the Bible who experienced this, as all of
us have, where two who have walked together, worked together, did many things
together, no longer do so. They no longer want to mend the broken relationship.
Over. Done with.
It happened with David. It happened with Jesus. Paul and
Barnabas, two apostles set apart from the local church in Antioch to go out
together in ministry, parted ways after a big disagreement.
“Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that
they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and
sailed away to Cyprus.” Acts 15:39, NASB
Are these always the work of the devil? Is it human nature
that we have ongoing problems and can’t seem to get along with people? Is it
due to pride, jealousy, wanting our own way, the way we want it? “My way or the
highway!”
Sometimes. Sometimes not.
I have had two primary relationships where I considered “my
best friend” turned their back on me. And it hurt. Forgiveness on my part, to
protect my spirit and soul, was the only way to go to keep me from ongoing
resentment, bitterness, anger, and not “burning the bridge”. It has also
happened in ministry, which should be of no surprise to anyone by now – that
ministries are not perfect, nor the greener grass necessarily.
Before Laurie and I got married in 1977, we told each other
that we would never use the “D” word in our marriage. The commitment we made to
each other, not having “divorce” as an option, has kept us together by our
Lord’s grace, binding us to that commitment. We had to work things out.
A good friend of mine (and still is) recently spoke of how
the Lord was taking him and me on separate paths. Is this a broken
relationship? No. We both sensed that our time working together, in so many
ways, was preparation for what now lay ahead for both of us. We will continue
to support one another in His plans and purposes, but the time for each of us
to “expand our tents” will lead us to do so on different pathways.
My prayer is for you to go the extra mile when necessary.
Persevere in your relationships to keep them strong and lifelong. Families,
churches, and synagogues need the Lord's unity to fulfill His Kingdom purposes.
You are meant to be a vital part of that.
Ahava and shalom,
Steve Martin
Message #4, 2026, “A Broken Relationship or Something Else?” Feb.
9, 2026, 2:30 pm
#BrokenRelationship #SomethingElse #SteveMartin #LoveForHisPeople #Jesus #Yeshua, #relationships #Paul #Barnabas #friends #linelleroux
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