Living in Peace with Family: Forgive, Reconcile, Rebuild, Love

meetgodattheedgeof
Oct 17
3 min read

A powerful scene showing a father and son separated by a glowing golden cross of light in a warmly lit room. The father sits with his head bowed, holding a phone, while the son stands by a window, reflecting on reconciliation. Words in the light read “Forgive. Reconcile. Rebuild. Love.” symbolizing the journey of healing and choosing peace within family. — Even in silence, God builds a bridge. Peace begins the moment we choose to forgive, reconcile, rebuild, and love.

Colossians 3:15

[15] Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.

When I read this passage, the first thought that came to mind was family. Living in peace with family can be one of the hardest challenges we face. It’s not always easy to keep the peace when emotions run high, misunderstandings linger, and old wounds still sting. I’ll be the first to admit—sometimes it feels like someone is always offended or hurt by something you said or did.

My own family—my brothers and sisters—went through that for years. It breaks my heart to think about all the time we lost because of pride, hurt, and silence. But God’s Word reminds us that we were chosen to live together in peace, not division. And to truly experience that kind of peace, there are a few things we must be willing to do: forgive, reconcile, rebuild, and love.

Forgive

To live in peace with family, we must begin with forgiveness. Bitterness and peace can’t live in the same heart. Forgiveness releases us from the weight of resentment and allows God to work in places we’ve been holding onto too tightly. When we forgive, we open the door for His healing power to move—not only in others but in ourselves.

Reconcile

Sometimes after forgiveness, we feel led to reach out and rebuild the relationship. Other times, reconciliation doesn’t happen right away—and that’s okay. There are moments when God asks us to step back and let Him work. When we try to mend things in our own strength, we can actually slow down His process. That’s when we need to trust that He’s doing what we can’t see.

God often whispers, “Give them to Me, and I will work on their heart.” That kind of surrender takes faith. It’s not giving up—it’s giving over.

Rebuild

Rebuilding peace takes time. It’s not just about fixing the past; it’s about building a new foundation rooted in grace. Each step of rebuilding—every small gesture of kindness, every softened word—is an act of obedience that honors God and strengthens His design for family unity.

Love

Love is what ties it all together. When we let the peace of Christ control our thoughts, love becomes our default response instead of anger or frustration. As Paul writes in Colossians, we are chosen to live together in peace—and that peace flows from a heart that loves like Jesus.

Life is precious and limited. Don’t let the sun set on broken relationships. If you remember that someone has something against you, Scripture makes it clear what to do:

Matthew 5:23–24

[23] So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you,[24] leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God.

Reconciliation and forgiveness aren’t just about making things right with others—they’re about growing closer to God. When we forgive, we reflect His heart. When we reconcile, we follow His command. When we rebuild, we strengthen His family. And when we love, we walk in His peace.