Make Peace, Not War

by Monica Hernandez
Published December 15, 2005

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9).

It happened last summer. Elaine, an elderly lady, knocked on her neighbour's door and tearfully apologized to him for creating discord in times past. She also brought him flowers. The reason for Elaine's apologies and flowers was that Jeff, her neighbour, had cut a long-standing growth of grass in front of her house and her heart was deeply touched.

Elaine and Jeff had been in discord and strife for most of the twenty years Jeff and his family moved into a house next to Elaine’s. Among other things, there were squabbles over boundaries of property, the cutting down of trees and the burning of trash in the backyard. Then, one day while cutting grass in the front of his house, Jeff noticed that the grass in front of Elaine's house needed to be cut, and, knowing that Elaine’s husband was recently admitted into hospital as an Alzheimer, Jeff responded to God's nudging, went over and humbly cut the grass.

It is often challenging to do good, but good we must do so that we might see good effects in our lives. At Psalm 34:12-14, we read: “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?” And the psalmist goes on to give four steps for “seeing good” in our lives: one, depart from evil, two, do good, three, seek peace, and four, pursue it. When there is a challenge to do good, we need to treat it as a test that must be passed, at all costs, with honours.

Often, we need to face the situation and do good in places and at times where it does not seem to fit. Such good can either be acts of kindness that are needed or apologies that is due. Both Elaine and Jeff sought peace in those ways. They have made peace, love and goodwill a living reality.

More than ever, in these current times of chaos, we need to discover the art of seeking peace and pursuing it so that we may “see good” in our lives. If we look around today, we see that being a peacemaker is becoming more and more of a challenge. On a global level we see chaos, war and terrorism, and in our own personal lives we see tension and strife in the workplace, in our homes and communities. But, like Jeff, we can practice the principle of peace and be peacemakers.

Though seeking peace and pursuing it is a challenge, yet it can be done. How? By keeping our minds stayed on God (Isaiah 26:3) and seeking to be His servant in the world to the highest that He can use us. By making a conscious connection with the peace, love and goodwill of God, our Father, we can be willing channels for Him.

In the above text, the word for “mind” is translated from a Hebrew word meaning “thought, or imagination” and the term “peace, peace” means lots of peace, or peace profound: a sense of peace in our hearts that is beyond imagination.

Let us now consider “seeking peace” to be the same as “making peace.” Our first step in making peace is to recognize that peace exists. Even in the midst of violent storms, whether in the natural realm or of the emotional kind, there is peace. Scientists tell us that no matter how violent a storm could be, there is peace at its center (the eye of the storm). And this is true not only from a natural perspective and also a spiritual one.

Peace is a living reality, that can manifest as an actuality. Our concern is to find peace, tap into it and let it be. Consequently, Jesus could say: “Blessed are the peacemakers...”

When we find ourselves confronted with trauma and discord, whether in the workplace, home or our environment, we can quickly harmonize that crisis by recognizing that our God is a God of peace (Romans 15:33) and is everywhere present, even in the midst of that situation, waiting to be acknowledged and have His peace brought forth. In faith, we can then claim His peace by declaring words of peace to that discord.

When Jesus and His disciples faced a great storm at sea, Jesus rebuked the wind and spoke to the raging sea: “Peace, be still.” Just the same, when storms rage in your environment or within you, you can take authority and speak peace into the discord and strife in your life, in the name of Jesus who is the Prince of Peace. As you regularly speak the peace of Christ into your life you will find that you are less prone to becoming angry or emotionally upset. Then will you know the peace of God in your heart that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-9).

Psalm 119:165 tells us that “those who love God’s law shall have great peace and nothing shall offend them.” In this text, the word “offend” means “to stumble,” indicating that when we love God's law (knowing it and doing it), we would sense a great peace and harmony within. The text does not mean that we shall never be “offended” by others in the way we commonly use the word today but it means that nothing will “stumble” against our peace, in other words, we will not lose our sense of peace and well-being.

Last, but not least, consider the text that says: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem...” When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are being obedient to the Word of God, but we also need to pray for the peace of all war-torn nations. By praying for the peace of all nations at war, we shall be peacemakers to some degree. Then, as peacemakers, we shall be imitating God, our Father and Jesus Christ, and rightfully called “the children of God.”

Suggested Readings: Psalm 34:12-14; Psalm 119:165; Psalm 122:6-9; Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 5:9; Mark 4:39; Philippians 4:6-9.

Reflection: I do not have to face discord and strife alone for I have access to the peace of God within me. I can experience and share the peace that passes all understanding.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, you are the God of peace. Make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is despair, let me sow hope; where there is darkness, let me sow light; and where there is sadness, let me sow joy. Amen.”
—A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis.

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