Devotional Verse: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law" (Matthew 10:34-35, ESV).
A polarizing topic was stoked once again here in America, which created a lot of strife and tension on social media (what else is new?). Since it was a topic I am very passionate about, I decided to share my personal thoughts on the news. As a Christian, my worldview is filtered through a Biblical lens. This should be the case for all professing Christians, but sadly, that is not always true in our current society. Many are creating a Christianity (and Jesus) to their own liking that allows them to continue to embrace worldly ideologies and philosophies that make them feel better about themselves. But in the gospels, Christ assures us that if we try to hang onto our lives, we will lose them. If we want to hold onto the world, we will inevitably lose our souls.
My strong Biblical convictions were met with much animosity among some of my friends (some unbelievers and some professing Christians). Two close friends from my past, in particular, immediately "unfriended" me on Facebook after becoming extremely offended by my position on this controversial topic, even though I had expressed my views on it before. This is expected as a Christian. We know we will lose much as Christ-followers. It's something we typically prepare ourselves for early on in our walk. But I have been a Christian for almost two decades.
For whatever reason, these two friends could not tolerate my convictions and wanted me out of sight and out of mind. The situation with one friend hurt worse, considering it was a friendship with a deep history of more than twenty-five years; We had made countless memories together since grade school, and she was the maid of honor in my wedding. I reached out to her, and she responded with her disgust with my Christian beliefs (compared to her own) and offenses, but was radio silent to my plea to reconcile despite our opposing views, especially our differing views within Christianity and about the Bible. Her silence was loud and clear: she no longer wanted to walk in fellowship with me and was willing to throw away twenty-five years of friendship on a whim. If someone isn't willing to be Facebook friends with you, do they really want you in their life? The answer was evident to me.
Yet, I wasn't expecting to face this type of division in my friendships this many years later as a believer; I was confronted with the complex reality that Jesus' words in Matthew 10 were unfolding in my life. Although Jesus is speaking particularly of family in verses 34-35, the sentiment remains the same: Jesus has come to bring a sword to our relationships, drawing a line in the sand between those who love and follow Him and those who do not.
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law" (Matthew 10:34-35, ESV).
Later in this passage, Christ makes it clear that we must love Him more than anyone or anything, even our own lives. We must lay it all down to follow Him at all costs, but He promises life abundantly to those who sacrifice all to pursue Him and His ways.
It's in times like these when I am broken and disappointed and hurt that I find myself throwing my hands up and saying, "Just give me Jesus." He is the One who brings us hope, an anchor to our souls, keeping us tethered to Him and His truth when our hearts feel like they're falling apart at the seams from the pain of rejection.
He comes to our rescue and embraces us in our pain, even if the circumstances don't change, even if the suffering doesn't seem to end, and even when the relationship cannot be or refuses to be reconciled. He comes to our rescue and is there with us, directing our eyes heavenward, reminding us this place is not our home and that His ways are so much better. He may bring a sword to divide relationships in this life, but a relationship with Him is so much sweeter and more rewarding than anything we could ever experience here on earth. As we turn our backs on the world, it will undoubtedly turn its back on us. Let us lift our eyes where our Help comes from and seek Jesus in the midst of our loss, knowing there will be significant gain found in Him.
We need to remember that we are accepted in the Beloved and that the Lord is near to the broken-hearted. Following Christ is a call to die, and as Christians, we will be hated for His name's sake. Christ has come to bring a sword and asks us to love Him more than anyone or anything else, yet the pain of rejection still hurts. The Lord will bring healing to your heart and endow you with His grace to endure the difficult times that come from following Him. Even though you may experience loneliness, you are never truly alone, for God is always with you. No matter how much it costs, we must choose to pursue God and His ways above all. This world has nothing for us, as Christ followers, because He is our everything.
Related Resource: Praying Through Psalm 51: Restoring the Joy of Salvation
Can a heart stained by the worst kinds of betrayal ever truly be restored?? When the world demands justice, does God offer a different way back? In this devotional on Psalm 51, we step into the wreckage of King David’s greatest failure—the affair with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. We move beyond a simple apology to uncover the specific Hebrew anatomy of David's confession: Pesha (rebellion), Avon (twistedness), and Hata'ah (missing the mark). We explore the shocking reality that under Mosaic Law, David should have faced the death penalty, yet he boldly asks God to "create a way" where the law offered none. If you’ve ever felt like your mistakes have disqualified you from God’s presence, or that you are not worthy due to your past mistakes, this episode offers a roadmap from guilt to gladness. Come ready to run toward the Father who doesn't just want your perfection, but your broken and contrite heart. If this episode helped you connect with God, be sure to follow Praying Christian Women on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Friday, 13 February 2026.
SHARE
