“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Mathew 5:9)
This verse grabs me because I love peace. Rather, I adore peace while I hate conflict and trouble so much I’d love to just run when it happens. You know the fight or flight thing? Well, I’m definitely in the flight category.
But sometimes you can’t run and the unpeaceful stands tall in your life no matter what you do. For those who hate conflict, this can be debilitating. And, guess what, we can join the false who cry “Peace, Peace” when there is no peace.
Jesus asks us to be peace makers; He never approved peace fakers.
Even a peace maker at heart needs to learn not to fake peace.
Jesus didn’t put the burden of creating peace in every situation on our shoulders, but He did say we are blessed when we can, and we do. This means there are times when we can’t, and times when we can.
Peace makers dissolve fights willingly when they’re able to do so righteously; peace fakers pretend nothing is wrong even when something’s dreadfully wrong.
Peace makers are humble enough to say “I’m sorry” first; peace fakers say “I’m sorry” just to cover up the problem and move on with the problem still staring her in the face.
Peace makers take the low road of acknowledging personal sin; peace fakers take all the blame, all the time, and pretend another has no sin even when they do.
Peace making leads to life; peace faking leads to an artificial, superficial existence where the soul is stripped of true inner joy and you soon land, wounded and battered like this boat on the shore.
Blessed are the peace makers who create peace when possible, but never shoulder the impossible.
Mothers, teach your kids to walk in truth, because only the truth brings ultimate freedom!
When Jesus encouraged us that the truth sets us free, He wasn’t just referring to the gospel; He wants us to own all truth, whether good or bad, painful or easy.
Owning reality helps us walk in clarity. Embrace the truth of your circumstance, your trial, and allow it to lead you to the truth of God’s deep, deep love.
Denial leads to a false sense of reality, and a clouded reality leads to mental confusion. Embrace the truth of all things, then wrap it all up in the truth of God’s love for you in spite of it all. Your heart and soul will clarify as you refuse falsehood and embrace truth.
In this way, you ensure peace making for your own heart whether or not others create peace for you.
Faking it hard never meant making it well. Only truth (on all accounts) leads you to light.
Walk in truth, and you will only go up, even when your circumstances are down.
Women of Purpose 