Hey Friend!
In honor of the release of my latest book, Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: a Biblical Guide to Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret we’re celebrating on the blog (cue confetti!!) If you’re here from the P31 Encouragement for Today devotion–welcome!
Since no celebration is complete without gifts, I’m giving away copies of the book to three lucky winners! I’m also sharing the introduction with you right here. Read to the end to find out how to enter to win.
But first, let me tell you why I wrote this book: I want our relationships to be all God designed them to be–your relationships and mine, too. I know from first-hand experience that mismanaging conflict is one of the biggest culprits in blocking that goal. It’s my prayer that this book will equip you, encourage you, and yes, even challenge you, to work through issues in a way that will both please God and bring you peace and joy.
Between the pages of the book, you’ll:
- discover the single most important quality necessary to handle conflict well;
- learn to communicate thoughts, feelings, and opinions with grace, truth, and zero regret;
- be equipped to handle conflict in a God-honoring way by exchanging conflict styles that hurt with conflict styles that heal;
- identify common conflict mistakes and prevent unnecessary disagreements and defeat; and
- stop being pulled into other people’s drama and remain calm in the midst of chaos.
I’m FOR you, I’m FOR your relationships, and I want your life to bless you and those around you!
INTRODUCTION
Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life by Donna Jones
We’ve never met, but I know you.
If I asked you about your deepest joy, you’d smile, and tell me about a relationship, wouldn’t you? A child. A spouse. A parent. A friend.
But, if I asked you about your deepest heartache, you’d also tell me about a relationship. Am I right?
A fallout with a family member, hurt from a friend, or conflict with a colleague, leaves us reeling, wondering what to do about it. We replay it in the shower. We rehash it with our friends. We can’t eat–or we can’t stop eating. We can’t sleep–or we can’t stop sleeping.
We rehearse conversations in our cars, obsessing over what he said. What she said. What we said.
What we wished we’d said.
Conflict in all its forms consumes us. Sure, we smile and function on the outside. We go to work. Take the kids to school. Call our moms. Celebrate holidays. But on the inside, we’re miserable. We’re confused. We’re ashamed. We’re angry. We’re wounded. We’re guilt-ridden. We’re hopeless.
We’re hurt.
Conflict never slips into our life alone; her friends, heartache, headaches, and hurt, always tag along. These companions don’t make good party guests, they make painful ones.
But you already know this, that’s why you picked up this book.
Maybe you can recall the exact moment you knew you needed wisdom for a relationship conflict.
Sometimes it happens in a flash; a text, a blow-up, a breakup, or a call, sends us into a tailspin in desperate need of help. Other times though, relationships fizzle in a slow fade, like embers on a day-old fire. The friend you thought would always have your back starts snubbing you instead; the spouse you thought you’d always feel close to suddenly seems like a stranger; the toddler you thought could never rebel grows to be the teenager that causes never-ending drama.
You wake up one day and everything seems manageable. You wake up the next day and realize it’s not.
So, what do you do when you’re standing in your kitchen with an upset teenager? How do you work through real-time disagreements with your spouse? What’s the best response when you’re blindsided by a text from a disgruntled co-worker? What should you say to a family member who has strong political opinions that run counter to yours? How do broach the subject with a friend who hurt your feelings?
This is the stuff life is made of.
What we do in the middle of this stuff will either leave us holding a bouquet of relief or a fist full of regret.
None of us wants to hang our head in shame, and think, “Why did I handle the conflict like that?”
The good news–the great news, actually–is that it’s possible to take hurtful conflicts and turn them into holy moments for God to show up.
Between the pages of this book, we’ll discover a practical, biblical blueprint to resolve conflict and genuinely connect with others. We’ll learn how to honor God when we’ve been hurt, how to communicate when we’d rather retaliate, and how to move toward others when it seems easier to run away. We’ll explore why conflict happens, what to do in the heat of conflict, and what to do to prevent conflict. You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of how to respond when conflict comes calling.
Whether you deal with daily disagreements or occasional blowups, Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life provides real-life ways to handle present life conflict so we can avoid future life regret.
For your chance to win a copy of Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life, simply leave a comment.
Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life is available in paperback, kindle, and audible, everywhere books are sold. It includes helpful questions at the end of each chapter making the book perfect for small groups, Bible studies, or book clubs! As an added bonus, listen to my February 21st episode of the “That’s Just What I Needed Podcast” to learn about the single most important quality to handle a conflict well.
You are loved!
Donna
Good morning, Donnajones
I’m interested in the copy of your book healthy conflict, peaceful life because I believe it will really help me in conversing how I feel with my family and friends.
God bless you
Just what I needed to hear this morning! Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Thank you for this thought-provoking message. I look forward to becoming more aware of my approach to conflict and how I can improve how I handle it.
Thanks for bringing a focus to this topic. It’s an area I desire to improve and then pass along to others. I’m so thankful that we serve the God of Reconciliation, the Prince of Peace, and the Spirit Counselor who understands, and leads us into all Truth.
I’m an avoider. I can’t wait to read this book!
I’m so excited to read this! Enjoyed meeting you and being under your teaching at Metro 2 Music conference for wives. What a blessing!!
I loved meeting you in Bemidji, Minnesota. This book is just what I need for this, time with a ugly situation at church. Thank you Donna.
Blessings
I’m interested in reading this book
After reading this introduction that is spot on for so many life situations, I’m eager to learn how to “do conflict” with holy intention. I can see this being a great pass along book or one to get several copies to share with others!
I can’t wait to get my hands on Donna’s new book!! Her podcast and its content are so incredibly relevant, and delivered in her most authentic self. She both inspires me and challenges me ever single time I listen to her podcast. I’m sure her new book will be more of the same! Thank you Donna for being such real, authentic and relatable material to your listeners and readers. I’m sure I’ll feel like I do when I listen to your podcast, which is like I’m sitting down to coffee with someone who “gets” me. Thank you Donna♥️
I would love to read this book and use it in relationship with my teen sons.
Would love to read this!
Hi there I would LOVE a copy of this book as I feel sure it would help me in my everyday life. I am quite sensitive and people often tell me that, which in turn upsets me more 😥. I always feel that if I wasn’t so sensitive then I wouldn’t be as caring as I am about others. I hate conflict and sometimes just don’t know how to handle it as I had an absent father who was very bad tempered. I feel this book would be a true asset for me x
Hi Donna, I appreciate your emails with great messages. I hope to be one of the winners for your book! 🙂
I love Donna’s insights on how to handle the challenges in my journey as a Christian women. Looking forward to reading this latest book.
Blessings
Debbie D
Hello! Heard you speak at our MOMS group recently and you were so great! I would love to win your book! I was the one that begged you to give me your only copy lol 😘💗
I read your devotion this morning through my Proverbs 31 email, and it had me in all my feelings. Trying to communicate with my 3 kids in a healthy way has been a challenge since my divorce. I could use all the help I can get!!
I can’t wait to read your book. I know it’s filled with helpful information.
So looking forward to this book and all your wisdom on dealing with conflict in a healthy way.
It would take a miracle for me to – “stop being pulled into other people’s drama and remain calm in the midst of chaos”. Everyone I know either explodes or goes into drama mode in conflict. But if you’re willing to send me a book, I would certainly be willing to try.
How insightful to learn I’m an ‘Accommodater’ Well, of course! You certainly nailed me, Miss Jones. Yes, I’m a known peace maker in the family… trusting in prayer to manage conflict. However, all too often I find that when do actually explode, it’s simply because I’m stuffing it ALL down: when I’m hurt, when I disagree, when I’m offended or feel rejected… seriously ALL of it. Your video and introduction made me realize this could be why I feel panicked when I actually decide to speak up (like, uh-oh, what if this conversation gets messy). Praying our precious Lord will continue to bless you and your ministry. And thank you for answering His calling, and using your gifts to bless so many of us.