Peace in the Chaos

Peace is quiet, tranquil, rest, undisturbed, harmonic and nonwarring. There is freedom in peace, freedom from commotion, freedom from strife and freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction and anxiety. Doesn’t that sounds amazing?

I think sometimes we get so used to going all the time, that living in a place of quiet and tranquility is a far off dream. For some people having the quiet is a scary thing to think about because it’s often in the quiet that we deal with our pain. Even though the outcome of dealing with pain is healing and growth, it’s hard to create the space of quiet to deal with the pain because it typically brings more pain before the healing comes. In our relationships, as well, it is often hard to seek peace with each other because of the painful things that may have to be addressed. But, as with seeking peace in our own lives, it also can bring healing and growth to seek peace in our relationships.

Hebrews 12:14 is often translated “make every effort to live in peace with everyone” but if you look up the Greek words used you will see a much more powerful command. The Greek translation says to swiftly run after peace between each and every person. To me, swiftly running after something is a much stronger statement and it is convicting. Am I “running after”peace in all of my relationships? Am I intentional to bring harmony? Am I so careful with my words that they don’t stir up strife or annoyance?

I’m finding out that being a peacemaker doesn’t always mean that you can help two other people have peace between themselves, but it does mean that there is a much better chance that I can have peace/harmony in my relationships and possibly be an example to help others. Sometimes this is the hardest with family members or those closest to us. Typically those relationships bring the most pain because of our increased expectations that they will meet our needs in a certain way. In a perfect world we could all just throw out all expectations of others, rely completely on God to meet our needs and swiftly run to a place of peace in all of our relationships. Sadly, though, once sin entered into our world, immediately we began blaming others and not taking responsibility for our own part in things.

What would it look like to take one day and throw out all expectations that you have with every adult in your life? When the waitress gets your order wrong, you will have peace (freedom of the mind from annoyance), when your spouse doesn’t follow through with what they said they were going to do, you will have peace (freedom from strife and nonwarring), when your friend loses your favorite book, you will have peace…. Let’s do it! Let’s see how God uses it and see if we can make it two days, and then three, and eventually it could become a lifestyle, and just maybe change the world.