If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

That’s decent advice for some areas of our lives; however, when it comes to our key relationships there needs to be a caveat: if it could break, fix it before it does. Even more specifically, fix during times of peace what might break during times of war.

Right now everything is really great with my family. We’re all getting along. There is nothing too traumatic pressing up against our tension points, and we’re not having delicate conversations about awkward, emotional issues. It’s nice.

However, that doesn’t mean that aren’t cracks and issues underneath the surface that could split wide open in the right (or wrong) situation. Fortunately, I think I’m aware of what some of those family cracks are and I’m intentionally attempting to reinforce and heal them. I’ve learned the hard way that a time of war is not the best time to try to mend relational challenges. It is much better to intentionally pursue relational health when things are peaceful and good.

Sadly many people fail to operate this way. They’re urgent to fix their problems when the pressures of life pushes those problems to the surface, but as soon as things settle down they lose their sense of urgency. Consequently, their unresolved issues lurk just below the surface, waiting to rear up and wreak havoc during times of pressure, fighting, or stress.

Jesus said, “Suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?”

Let’s be wise kings, counting the cost and fixing in times of peace what might break in times of war.