Restoring Family Relationships: How God Brings Peace and Unity

Editor’s note – JM Troppello writes about an ordinary, exhausting season – two family moves back to back – and what she noticed underneath all the packing and hauling: God quietly knitting a family closer together. We’re running this piece because it’s a needed corrective. We tend to treat busyness and spiritual growth as competitors, but she found them working side by side. Her reflection is a simple testimony to how God uses the mundane work of showing up for family as the very soil where restoration grows.

I’ve been reflecting lately on everything God has been doing in my life and my family’s life over the past couple of months. I know I’ve shared quite a bit about His faithfulness recently, but I honestly can’t help it. The more I see Him working, the more amazed I become by His goodness, His love, and His ability to bring restoration into situations.

This past weekend was another busy one for my husband and me. We spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday helping my mom move, and I’m thankful that things are finally coming together for her. It was a lot of work, but it was also a blessing to help her during this transition.

Over the past couple of months, we’ve also been helping my mother-in-law with her move. Between both moves, our weekends have been filled with packing, organizing, carrying things, and taking care of all the little details that come with moving. But as I look back over this busy season, something stands out to me even more than all the work we’ve accomplished.

God has been bringing our family closer together.

Sometimes God Works Through the Busiest Seasons

When you’re in the middle of a busy season, it’s easy to focus on everything that needs to get done. There are schedules to coordinate, responsibilities to manage, and unexpected things that come up along the way. Sometimes you’re so focused on getting through the day that you don’t realize what God might be doing through those experiences.

That’s something I’ve been noticing lately as my husband and I have spent more time helping our families. Yes, we’ve been busy, and there have certainly been moments when we’ve been tired. But we’ve also had opportunities to spend more time together, talk, support one another, and strengthen our relationship.

And I’m so thankful for that.

Sometimes relationships grow stronger through ordinary moments of simply being there for each other. It might be helping someone pack a box, running an errand, or spending a few hours working together toward a common goal. Those things might not seem especially significant at the time, but they can create opportunities for connection that we might not otherwise have experienced.

I’ve been reminded that God can use even the busiest seasons for something good. What might initially seem like another responsibility can become an opportunity to show love, extend kindness, and grow closer to the people He’s placed in our lives.

As I look back over these past two months, I’m thankful that we’ve been able to help our family members. But I’m even more thankful for the peace and closeness I’ve been experiencing in our relationships.

Editor’s note – There’s real wisdom in refusing to treat busy seasons as spiritually empty time. Scripture doesn’t wait for quiet moments to do its work in us – Jesus called His first disciples away from their nets, not their rest. The next time your calendar is packed, it’s worth asking what God might be doing in the very middle of it.

Our God Is a Restorer and Redeemer

One thing that has especially amazed me lately is how God has been working in relationships within our extended family. I’ve seen changes that have encouraged me, and I’ve been reminded that situations don’t always have to stay the way they were in the past. God can bring healing, understanding, and restoration in ways we might not expect.

I believe our God is a restorer and a redeemer. He knows our hearts, understands every situation, and sees things from a perspective we never could. He’s omniscient, all-knowing, and all-powerful, and nothing about our lives is hidden from Him.

Sometimes we look at a relationship or a difficult family situation and wonder whether things will ever change. We might pray about it for months or even years without seeing the progress we’re hoping for. But that doesn’t mean God isn’t working, and it doesn’t mean we should stop praying.

One verse that comes to mind is Romans 12:18:

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18)

I appreciate the way this verse acknowledges that peace isn’t always completely within our control. We can’t make decisions for other people, and we can’t force relationships to become what we want them to be. But we can choose how we respond, extend grace, forgive when necessary, and do our part to pursue peace.

I think that’s especially important in family relationships. Sometimes misunderstandings, disagreements, or difficult seasons create distance between people. But when hearts soften, and people are willing to move forward, those relationships can begin to change.

I’ve been seeing some of that in our family lately, and it has been such a blessing. I’m not saying that every relationship is perfect or that every situation has been completely resolved. But I’ve been experiencing a greater sense of peace and unity, and I’m thankful for the progress that’s been made.

And I give God the glory for that.

Editor’s note – Romans 12:18 is a sober verse precisely because it admits what we can’t control. We don’t get to script someone else’s heart toward reconciliation; we only get to do our part faithfully and leave the rest to God. That’s a hard pill for anyone who wants restoration on a deadline, but it’s also freeing.

Thankful for the Peace and Unity God Is Bringing

Another passage that comes to mind is Psalm 133:1:

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

What a beautiful reminder of how precious unity can be. When people are able to come together with love, understanding, and a willingness to support one another, it truly is a blessing. And I think we don’t always appreciate that until we’ve been through seasons when relationships were harder.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been feeling especially thankful for the relationships in my life. I’ve enjoyed seeing family members grow closer, spending more time together, and watching God work in ways that have brought greater peace. These are blessings I don’t want to overlook or take for granted.

I’ve also been reminded that restoration doesn’t always happen all at once. Sometimes it takes time, patience, prayer, and a willingness to keep showing love even when things aren’t easy. Challenges may still come along the way, but that doesn’t take away from the good things God is already doing.

I know that my husband and I will look back on this season and remember how busy it was. We’ve spent a lot of time helping with moves, rearranging our schedules, and making sure our family members had the support they needed. But I believe we’ll also remember the time we spent together and the ways our relationships grew stronger through it all.

And that’s what means the most to me.

Editor’s note – It’s easy to let the practical demands of family life crowd out the relational ones. JM Troppello’s point is worth remembering: the moves themselves will be forgotten long before the conversations had along the way.

The more I reflect on God’s goodness, the more amazed I become by who He is. He’s our Creator, our Redeemer, and the One who knows every detail of our lives. He understands the things we’ve been through, the prayers we’ve prayed, and the situations we’re still trusting Him with.

I’m so thankful that I can bring every concern to Him, including the relationships that matter most to me. I don’t have to understand exactly how He’s working or know what the next chapter will look like. I can keep praying, do my part to live peaceably with others, and trust Him with the things I cannot control.

These past two months have reminded me that some of life’s greatest blessings aren’t financial or material. They’re found in restored relationships, meaningful conversations, time spent with loved ones, and the peace that comes when people begin growing closer together.

I’m thankful for the ways God has been working in my family, and I’m excited to see how He continues to guide us. We still have things we’re praying about, but I’m choosing to focus on His faithfulness and appreciate what He’s already done.

God is truly amazing, and I never want to stop giving Him glory for the good things He’s doing in our lives.

Have you ever experienced God bringing restoration, peace, or greater unity into a relationship? I’d love to hear how He’s been working in your life or family. Sharing our testimonies is a wonderful way to give Him the glory.

A Word from the Editor
Psalm 133 calls unity among family “good and pleasant,” and anyone who has lived through a strained season knows how rare that goodness can feel. JM Troppello’s testimony isn’t a formula – move boxes, grow closer – it’s an honest witness to a God who restores relationships in whatever season He finds us in. If a relationship in your life feels distant tonight, Romans 12:18 still applies: do what is yours to do, and trust Him with the rest.

Editor Comment: Thank you, JM, for this gentle reminder that God often does His deepest relational work in the midst of life's busiest, most ordinary seasons.

This article appeared on Medium and is reprinted with modifications and by permission.