Peacemaker

Peacemaker

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

I ADAMANTLY DISAGREED with the conversation I unwittingly had become a part of. Struggling for what to do, I glanced around the room, looking for a way out before my face gave away my internal emotions.

Part of me wanted to speak up, but I also knew anger was welling up inside of me, and I was sure what would come out of my mouth in the moment would not be very kind. Instead, I got up from the table and left the room wondering how I could have been a peacemaker in the midst of a challenging conversation.

After several days had passed, I could not stop thinking about how good it felt to know that I had kept my mouth shut when I wanted to say something (potentially) hurtful. How sometimes choosing to keep my relationships intact and being a peacemaker is more important than sharing my opinions or even being right.

This doesn’t mean there haven’t been times I’ve needed to go back and have discussions with people about conversations I’ve quietly left. I’m certainly not an advocate for avoiding issues that need to be brought up or hashed out, but I’m learning that speaking in anger all too often accomplishes little more than hurt feelings and resentment. Usually I just end up saying things I later regret and then have to go back and apologize for anyway.

Being a peacemaker often means watching our tongue. Caring more for another person’s heart and well-being than our ability to be free to say whatever we want, whenever we want.

Our mouth is a powerful tool, and we choose if we’ll use it for good or bad.

Jesus said that peacemakers would be called children of God, and that is what we should want to be called, more than anything else. More than I want to be able to share my opinions. More than lashing out in anger. More than even getting my own way. This way of Jesus may garner friction when crossing what our flesh desires in the moment, but it’s the way of a peacemaker. It’s his Spirit that guides and reminds us that speaking peacefully and not harshly is right.

Lord, help us to be peacemakers. Give us wisdom to know what to say and the courage to know when to say it. Amen.

-Kendra

One Good Step: What is one way you can be a peacemaker in a challenging relationship?