This morning, our Beth Moore Bible study focused on peace. We've been studying the fruits of the spirit and as usual, Beth hits it home in challenging us to live beyond ourselves. What is the difference between a peace keeper and a peace maker? A peace keeper will avoid conflict and attempt to keep peace, even unhealthy peace, at all costs. A peace maker can be at peace even when the circumstances surrounding him are anything but peaceful. The two opponents of peace are the keepers of false peace and lovers of contention. The keepers of false peace are usually motivated by fear or distrust, attempt to keep the peace around them at any cost, and this peace is unhealthy. One of the primary definitions of "shalom" is health. Therefore, unhealthy peacekeeping is an oxymoron. On the other side we have the lovers of contention. They are motivated by misery, power, and a lack of discipline. You've probably met a few of these people. Those who like to stir the pot, get everyone riled up, cause trouble wherever they go. Maybe they are miserable so they want others to be miserable too. They seek power for if you alone can stir everyone up, you have taken control of their emotions and the environment. However, peace does not come from your circumstances. Peace doesn't come with the resolution of a problem or situation. Peace first comes from Christ, God, from authority. Yes, peace comes with authority. Now that didn't make the best sense to me until I finally related it to something I could understand.....our relationship with the horse.
I have often seen an owner with an undisciplined horse. They don't correct the horse, don't give it boundaries and rules, and they don't have authority over that horse. Perhaps they fear that in confronting their horse, correcting them, that they will spoil their relationship with the horse or disrupt the peace that they appear to have. However this is an unhealthy, false peace. It is no peace at all. In fact, this peace is dangerous. That horse could, at any moment, run the person over because they've never been taught to first ask permission before they entered a person's space and they've never been taught to respect a human who might be telling them to back away, move out of the way. This is dangerous, unhealthy, and not even close to peace. Why? Because there is no authority in the relationship. Now, if you've taught your horse to respect you, respect your space, and to be submissive, you have created peace. You aren't keeping it, you are making it. You are the authority, the boss, and the horse has learned to respect that. They will wait for you to invite them into their stall, they won't walk on top of you when you're leading them, and they are less likely to run you over. You are the authority and there is peace in the relationship. Now switch the roles. God is the authority, you are the horse. Your peace comes when you are under His leadership, when you give Him the reins. Once again, our relationship with the horse has mirrored our relationship with God.
As Beth said, we fall into either the lovers of contention or the peace keeper category. I feel like I could fall more towards the peace keeper category. I try to avoid conflict and I would rather sacrifice a bit on my part to make sure that everyone else is happy. But that's not peace, not true peace. However I've learned a lot about confrontation, about conflict, and as the years go on and I grow, it's definitely something I'm doing much better in. I'd have to say that there are 2 circumstances where I don't feel at peace with yet and they are the two circumstances that haven't been completely resolved in my book. Why? Because I never had the chance to talk about it and it doesn't feel resolved. Those two circumstances still bring up strong emotions. Not resolved, not at complete peace. However, if I've had the opportunity to share my feelings and talk through a particular circumstance, I can honestly say that I'm at peace about it and I move on from it. There are times when I have to talk to a counselor and potentially stir up conflict by bringing up something they are doing wrong or that they need to do better. Not a comfortable thing to do. But once I've confronted them, it's like everything's been reset. The slate's been wiped clean, as clean as I humanly can. I've had them come back to me asking if I was still upset with them or they act like they are still in trouble with me. Not at all. I try to not hold grudges, to not be offended, to to remember my place in this world. And the same with my friendships. Issues might arise here and there but if we keep on top of them, then we can move on forward and forget it. It's also very freeing to be in that kind of relationship.
So where does peace come from again? Ultimately, it came with Christ, when He came into the world, with His authority. Our sinful nature resists peace. The government is on His shoulders, He is the authority, and He brought peace with Him and He left it with us. In the midst of trials and tribulations, we can have peace because we have hope. We grieve but not as those without hope. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
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