The Grace Street Blog

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9

Peace is such an uncommon thing to stumble upon nowadays, much less witness someone bend over backwards to create.

As noted in a recent blog, God has been drawing me toward forgiveness quite often lately. And what seems to be the most ironic part of this season, is that I have been experiencing a lot of random moments of hurt. From people close to me, but more so from people I don’t even know.

If I am honest, if things continue the way they are, it feels as though the coming months could break me apart via insecurities and the comments of those around me, or it could truly show my heart what forgiveness is in deeper ways than I ever imagined.

What an odd place to be. On the edge of fear and uncertainty, with the slightest bit of anticipation for a breakthrough I never thought was possible.

A while back, I felt drawn to this book called “The Broken Way”. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a difficult read. Not only because of the spiritual depth, but also because of the relatability. As the author dissects the true path to “abundant life”, she reveals the role community plays in all of it.

As an introvert, I tend to remain quite reserved. And when I am hurt, or the slightest bit anxious, I resort to isolation in a desperate attempt to avoid the type of emotional spirals I used to endure fairly often.

That worked, until it didn’t. With so many random situations of hurt recently, I started isolating at just the thought of a “bad encounter” with others. This led me to go in public for the necessary reasons (groceries, work, running, etc.) and nothing more.

Despite the conviction I had received in isolating like this, it didn’t really penetrate my heart until yesterday.

I hadn’t noticed the line at the other entrance of the gas station. So, seeing two empty spots, I pulled into one and began pumping my gas like any other day. That was until not one, but two random people drove up one after the other and shouted remarks of disappointment and anger from their window that I had cut the line.

Standing there, holding back tears, I realized I had come to the point of anxiety again where when faced with it, my heart already felt so defeated, not an ounce of anger or justification even tries to protect myself. As much as I want to say I sat there apologetic because I was humble, the truth is that I had already believed I was a mess up, so broken, that their comments only reinforced those thoughts.

I did not get angry because I was just as disappointed in myself as they were. But when I got home, something in me told me the last thing I needed was to be alone. (praise God and His Holy Spirit in us)

So I ran. I ran like I did every other day. But this time, my lung started hurting so bad. To the point it hurt to even jog lightly. And in that moment of even more defeat, I realized I was just a block away from my grandma’s house. And all that ran through my head was the concept Ann Voskamp (the author of the Broken Way) had been trying so desperately to get through my head; to GIFT even in and with all our brokenness.

G – give

I – it

F – forward

T – today.

She believes that despite how we feel about our brokenness, our hearts cannot deny the blessing of being a blessing to others. As someone who struggling with emotions, I have looked up and read about tons of strategies to “get out of the slump” of negative thinking. But my friend, nothing has quite changed me as much as loving others when I least feel like it has.

So I ran (more like limped) to grandma’s house and had the chance to love and be loved for about an hour.

And isn’t that, love, just what God put us here for?

As I read more on that yesterday, the word “peacemaker” came back to my mind.

Why is it such an uncommon thing to experience? Why is it such an unusual response to have if we call ourselves followers of the embodiment of Peace?

Being a planner, I tend to organize things to start or launch when things become “peaceful” again. For instance, I am a big advocate for new year, new month, or even fresh new weekly plans. You will rarely see me start a new thing on a random Tuesday. I love peace. I love when the waters are calm. Who doesn’t?

But the truth is, life isn’t always calm. Maybe for a moment. Maybe it may seem like it in one area of your life, but there is always something that could be better.

At first, I felt quite disappointed at that reality. But then I realized the opportunity available to us. As followers of the One who brought peace to our chaotic, sinful souls, we have a chance every day to be a reflection of that. In fact, we are given the ability to be vessels of the mission of reconciliation Christ was on.

In 2 Corinthians 5:18 we see God led the way in being a peacemaker, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed us to the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.”

Reconciliation here is referring to the restored harmony between God and man; salvation. So as we live with a mission of reconciliation, leading others to Christ, does that not include how we act? How we love? How we speak, think of, and see others?

Being a peacemaker is far beyond letting go of something someone did to hurt you. It is not just avoiding any and every situation that might upset you. Fellow introverts, it is not isolating yourself for your own sake. It is stepping out, going out of our way to overcome evil with good. To speak life into those broken, empty, and even into those who speak nothing but insults to you. It is to bring Christ into every moment you experience for the sake of loving God and His people. And in turn, as a result of doing the very thing your heart was crafted to find fulfillment in, will you be overflowing with fullness of love. Not just enough to saturate your own heart and soul, but more than needed to share with those around you.

The blessing we see Jesus then say to the peacemakers is, “for they will be called children of God.”

Not riches, not fame, not even a thank you. Why? Because as much as it hurts sometimes to have good deeds go unnoticed, that’s not what this is all about. Blessed…sacred, content, joyful…are they because of the belonging they receive from God. As one admires the heart of Christ, being sanctified (becoming more like Him), they will change to desire what He does and be burdened by what burdens His heart. And that, dear Christian, is greater than any number of thanks this world could offer.

My dear friend, being a peacemaker isn’t the weaker response to this harsh life. It is the Christ-magnifying one. We can spend all our time and energy crafting the perfect comment to rude people. Or we could take the silent approach, turning our face from the reality of a world so desperate for love and claim ignorance. But how does that benefit those Christ died for? Those who have not yet heard? Peacemaking is not for the patient or forgiving, it’s for every soul adopted into the family of God. Oh child of Peace, do not dismiss this hidden blessing. There is an opportunity in every moment if you look close enough.

Thoughts to Consider:

Who in your life needs the peace of Christ reflected through your words, actions, or presence right now?

What fears, insecurities, or wounds make it difficult for you to be a peacemaker?

How would your relationships change if you viewed every interaction as an opportunity to participate in Christ’s ministry of reconciliation?

Consider being a peacemaker is less about comfort and more about carrying the heart of Christ.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9