Peace
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be
called children of God.”
I have that scripture tattooed on my inner forearm. Growing
up, it seemed I was surrounded by drama, at school and at home. So, I often
sought peace. I found peace closed in my bedroom with a book or spending time
just out riding my bicycle. As I got older, I found peace fishing on the river,
camping in the woods, sitting looking out over the mountains or the ocean. I
have long been on a self-induced stress reduction diet. If a particular
situation or relationship does not have value that exceeds the level of stress
related to it, I simply cut it out of my life.
As a father, I have strongly desired peace for my daughter’s
life and have done whatever I could to be a peace bringer. As a husband, I have
listened to my wife’s struggles and sought to be a peace bringer. One of the
hardest lessons I have had to learn was to avoid trying to provide fixes to
situations and instead listen and help provide an environment of peace.
While I have failed at times to be a source of peace and
some might say that I have stirred the pot, I have always strongly wanted
peace. Many times I find myself struggling when faced with the decision of
engaging a problem and confronting a situation or not saying anything just to
maintain the peace. I have felt convicted when my desire for peace seemed to
outweigh my desire to right a situation by having the difficult discussion. At
times, it seems, we have to step into the conflict and face matters head-on.
But even during difficult conversations requiring confrontations, we can still
seek to obtain peace without having to avoid the situation.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And
the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
The good news is God desires peace in our lives as much as I
desire peace in the lives of my loved ones. In fact, Jesus is referred to as
the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6. So our desire for peace is a quality
instilled in us by our creator. When we promote peace in our relationships, we
are being Christ-like which is pretty awesome.
The tattoo on my forearm is a constant reminder for me in
the hustle and bustle of life to find those moments of peace in my own life and
to be an instrument of peace in others lives. It is also a reminder of who the source of peace is.
