You step out of your car, lock the doors, stretch your arms and saunter toward your home, ready to collapse on the couch after a long day of work. You spent most of the day dreaming of this moment. And then you hear it.

Your daughter screeches. Your son yells. Your spouse calls out to you, seeking your support in the midst of another family fight. “Why can’t we just get along, for once?” you think to yourself. By the time you enter your home, you’re ready to ground your children and avoid your family altogether.  

Have you been here before?

On any given day, families face countless challenges. Different personalities, different needs, different expectations—the list goes on. But what happens when family fights become a regular occurrence? When every day seems to bring a new frustration or point of tension?

Maybe your son comes home from school each day and refuses to interact with you. You’ve scolded him, given him space and even asked him to see a counselor. But no matter how hard you try, the silence persists. Or maybe you just can’t seem to get on the same page as your spouse. The smallest differences lead to the greatest feuds, and you can’t help but question the future of your marriage.

Where can you turn?

You can start by meditating on messages of hope and healing found in God’s Word. These four Bible verses will get you started:

1. Lord, I’m frustrated. Give me patience with my family.
   Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. – Ephesians 4:2 (GNTD)
2. Lord, I’ve wronged my family. Forgive me for hurting those closest to me.
   As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us. – Psalm 103:12 (GNTD)
3. Lord, I’m angry. Give me the humility to forgive those who have hurt me.
   Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ. – Ephesians 4:32 (GNTD)
4. Lord, I’m exhausted. Help me find rest in you.
   Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light. – Matthew 11:38-30 (GNTD)