Conflict plagues us internationally, domestically, between political parties and ideological groups, in communities, at schools, between family members, and even within oneself. Tragically, some leaders, military establishments, and organizations promote conflict to selfishly gain money, power, or notoriety even though it causes others to suffer.
In contrast, our souls long for a resolution of conflict. Deep down we desire peace. In the United States our Declaration of Independence recognizes the unalienable right of people to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Yet those cannot be fully realized if they don’t include peace. However, peace is not just the removal of conflict. True peace replaces conflict with what is good, right, true, loving, and beautiful. Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace, captures this truth. Shalom includes peace, rest, safety, security, well being, and completeness. Don’t settle for less than what God has for you. Don’t just seek an end to conflict. With God’s help go further and replace conflict with the full peace only he can provide.
Jesus Brings Real Peace
We can’t find or make true peace on our own. The reason we struggle with conflict and establishing peace is because we are broken people in a fallen world each bent on serving ourselves first, instead of God and others. We need a solution that transcends ourselves. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is that solution (Isaiah 9:6).
God sent Jesus into a first-century, middle-eastern world full of conflict just like ours today. Jesus was born and raised as a Jew in Israel which was oppressed by Roman rule, corrupt with self-serving leaders, plagued by parties vying for power and control, rife with prejudice, and peppered with civil unrest. Yet he didn’t immediately overthrow the establishment by external means, although as almighty King of kings, he could have (Hewever he will when he returns). Instead he first came as a suffering servant and brought peace and victory that saves, heals, and changes people from the inside out (Colossians 1:19-23).
Jesus took that approach because he created us and knows us. He loves us and desires to draw us close so we can experience the abundance of life he designed us for (John 1:1-4, 12-13; Colossians 1:15-17). We tend to focus on external peace over circumstances, without first addressing the peace we need within ourselves. Jesus brings peace within by treating the cause of our spiritual cancer not just the symptoms. Our rebellious spirit and wrongdoing separate us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Jesus died and rose again to free people from that way of life and imparts a new life for anyone who trusts him to save them (Romans 3:23, 6:23-24; John 10:10). Once you take the first step of resolving your core conflict with God, then you are able to resolve conflict with others. God gives you his Spirit to live in you, to guide you, and to empower you to live in peace yourself and at peace with others. As you follow God’s Spirit his nature becomes evident in your life: his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:19-25). Because of God’s love and power at work within you, you can make peace with others. You can even love your enemies and pray for an end to their evil deeds and for their salvation (Matthew 5:9-10, 44-45).
Conclusion
Don’t fall for the lie that peace only comes externally by resolving your circumstances or conquering your opponents. That can bring peace, but it falls short of God’s design for your life. Just because you may have ceased fighting, if you are still ignoring or cancelling someone, or suppressing ill-will, bitterness, hatred, jealously, or revenge toward that person, you are not really at peace. True peace starts within you by getting right with God through confessing your sin and trusting Jesus. Then it blossoms by letting his life change you and flow through you to not only eliminate conflict, but to replace it with greater things from God like what is right, good, true, loving, and beautiful.
Note: Jesus is calling you to find peace, rest, and fulfillment in him. I wrote a song about this which you might enjoy. It is titled, “Come to Me.”