A difference of a couple letters can change a story. Those letters hold power within themselves. Two words that seem so similar but are worlds apart. Definitions first I guess:
con·vic·tion [kənˈvikSH(ə)n] NOUN - 1. a formal declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense, made by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law: "she had a previous conviction for a similar offense" synonyms: declaration/pronouncement of guilt - sentence - judgment. 2. a firmly held belief or opinion: "she takes pride in stating her political convictions" synonyms: belief - opinion - view - persuasion - idea - position - stance -the quality of showing that one is firmly convinced of what one believes or says: "his voice lacked conviction" synonyms: certaintry - certitude - assurance - confidence - sureness - positiveness - no shadow of a doubt con·flict [conflict] NOUN - 1. a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one: "the eternal conflict between the sexes" synonyms: dispute - quarrel - squabble - disagreement - difference of opinion VERB - 1. be incompatible or at variance; clash: "parents' and children's interests sometimes conflict" synonyms: contradictory - incompatible - inconsistent - irreconcilable
We spend so much time in conflict with ourselves, with society, with individuals, with time....we forget that conviction is what we should instead focus on and desire. As humans, sometimes I think we look for conflict actively. Our instincts draw us to want to be the "top of the food chain". We want to prove ourselves the leader, the most desired, the smartest. We seek out conflict to verify this to ourselves and the world. This is not our personal conviction, even though most times we try to convince ourselves it is. We try to use an argument to someone that opposes us with the idea that we were convicted to show them our truth. How then do we know for sure what is conviction vs. what is just a conflict? Hard question, that I definitely work at sorting out each day. It boils down to what your internal truth is!
One of the first examples I thought of when I started thinking about true conviction is from the Bible in Daniel chapter 3; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These young men held to their truth, held to their belief and conviction and would not bow to a false God. Even faced with a fiery death, they knew in their whole being that God would be with them, and He was. He delivered them from the fire. That is power. Knowing in your ENTIRE BEING that something is truth. No shadow of doubt, a steadfast sureness that allows us to step into a trial or conflict knowing that our truth has power. I want that conviction. I strive for it. God and the story of Jesus should give us this conviction. Again, we are humans and struggle with this (I know I do). But how much better would our lives be if we sought out conviction rather than a passing conflict?
XOXO,
Ginger about to snap