RTW 2024

Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves. You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased. Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.”

So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him.

2 Samuel 19:5-8

The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.”
2 Samuel 18:33

• The civil war in Israel is now over. 
• David’s side has won.
• David’s grief is uncontrollable and public. 
• His failure to thank his troops for risking their lives for him had caused his troops to become depressed. 
• Joab steps up to have the hard conversation with the king. 
• God uses his rebuke to restore the king. 
• David had to submit his own feelings for the greater good of his people. 
• Believers today have to have hard conversations. 
• The earlier we learn this biblical skill, the easier it becomes. 
• We can’t just ignore problems. 
• Trust that the Holy Spirit will guide your words. 
• Matthew 10:19
• Soak yourself in Scripture every day. 
• Reading the Word will help you know His will and train you for righteousness.
• 2 Timothy 3:16
• Be more like Jesus and you will have a better time with hard conversations. 
• 2 Corinthians 3:18
• Speak the truth in love. 
• A hard conversation should not be a hasty conversation. 
• Is the conversation about your feelings, or the other person’s well-being. 
• Ephesians 4:15
• Every instance of brokenness is an opportunity for restoration in Christ.
• Ephesians 2:14
• Hard conversations show your love for another believer. 
• Being on the receiving end, and responding in grace shows your maturity as a believer.

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Learn how to have hard conversations.