The Daily CHEW™
Chew on God’s Love. Live Transformed. Multiply Hope.
Yesterday, after a long strategy session, I sat in my car in the parking lot, scrolling my phone and replaying a recent disagreement with a close friend. Even as someone who coaches others for a living, I felt the ache of distance—the heaviness of words left unsaid, of good intentions misread. As a New York City native who treasures deep connections but also defends my own space fiercely, it’s easy to find myself both longing for closeness and instinctively bracing for disappointment.
Have you ever felt this tension?
Maybe for you it’s the quiet ache when a friendship grows distant, or the anxiety before reaching out to restore a relationship. Perhaps you carry that hope for reconnection right alongside the fear of being misunderstood, or you’re simply tired of always being the first to bridge the gap. Whatever it looks like, you are not alone in this longing.
Beneath every stretch of relational distance is a truer ache. Our desire for closeness isn’t just about harmony or having “peace”; it’s about the deep need to be known, welcomed, and restored—needs that point beyond any single person or circumstance. The Gospel reveals that every longing for reconnection is actually a homesickness for God’s kind of love: the relentless, reconciling affection that overcomes our pride and repairs what our striving cannot. Techniques and good intentions will only go so far; it’s the healing, initiating love of Christ that deals with the fear beneath our distance and opens the way for real relational wisdom.
CHEW Reset Invitation
If you’re carrying a weight or yearning for reconnection, take this moment:
Join me—no performance needed, no spiritual heroics, just honesty.
CHEW in 3-5 Minutes:
- Take three deep breaths—God’s love is present now, even amid what feels unfinished or awkward.
- Adore: “Father, You love me right now, before anything is accomplished or repaired.”
- Confess: “What am I truly feeling about this distance—toward myself, toward the other person, or about my own role?”
- Hear: “What promise from God speaks to this place?”
- “He himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall…” (Ephesians 2:14)
- “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18)
- “A friend loves at all times…” (Proverbs 17:17)
- Exchange: If this truth is real, how does it shift my heart?
- I would exchange my fear of being dismissed for a willingness to risk kindness.
- I would trade self-protection for a gentle, genuine step toward conversation.
- Walk: What’s one small action I’ll take? Maybe send a message, say a simple prayer, or simply release my demand for closure.
- Thanksgiving & Worship: Thank God for His pursuit and steady love, even and especially when you feel relational distance. End by letting His kindness be your peace, not just your efforts.
Remember This
Restoration is a journey, not a flip of the switch. Each time you name the ache and return with honesty—whether or not you see immediate change—is a real step forward. God calls you to presence, trust, and deepening return, not perfection or results.
CHEW On This™
If I really believed God’s love is reconciling and steadfast, how would that change my longing for connection, my fear of disappointment, or my next step toward relational wisdom this week?
Community Call
Relational wisdom is cultivated in community. CHEW works best when practiced with others—repeat it tomorrow, or invite a friend, group, or team to do it with you. Notice what changes when you move from private reflection to honest, shared return. As God’s love moves from head to heart, then heart to habit, the whole ecosystem of your leadership, family, and friendships begins to heal.
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Ready for lasting transformation?
Learn how to make CHEWing a daily rhythm. Our hope is that everyone can learn to CHEW without ever needing to pay us for help. If you need anything to help you CHEW on God’s love throughout your day, please let us know at [email protected]!
Chew on God’s Love. Live Transformed. Multiply Hope.
Select Resources
- Core Beliefs and the Power of Return
- SALVES: Discovering the Core Drivers in Every Relationship
- Honesty for High Performers: Moving Beyond Surface Peace
- Scripture for Driven Moments: Anchoring Relationships in the Word
- God’s Love as the Source of Discipline and Connection
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