As I am writing, I am glued to the television watching the highly anticipated peace agreement in the Middle East being signed and heralded. The last twenty living hostages have been released by Hamas from Gaza as part of the cease-fire agreement with Israel. This peace agreement has ignited celebrations across Israel and around the world. Could this be a “new beginning” for the region (and perhaps the world)? The world is certainly watching – some with doubt, some with condemnation, but most (I pray) with hope and joy.
The majority of my life has been spent observing conflict in the Middle East. Now I am praying for lasting peace in the region and other areas of conflict. As the great evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, stated:
“Let God have your life; he can do more with it than you can.”
God wants us to be peacemakers – He wrote it in Scripture. However, we need His power to do so.
Learning to Be a Peacemaker
To be honest, I am not a natural-born peacemaker. Because I don’t like conflict, I end up avoiding people I don’t like rather than building a relationship. God, however, modeled the right way for me to seek peace. When I disobey Him, He takes the initiative to reconcile a relationship with me and the other person through His Son. I’m no longer subject to my defensive mechanisms. Instead, I have access to His peace, which makes being a peacemaker possible.
God reminds us in Scripture (Matthew 5:9):
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
I initially thought, “If I just memorize Scripture, then wham … I will be a peacemaker.” So I memorized … but it didn’t work the next time I got in an argument. I needed a deeper understanding of what it meant to be a peacemaker.
The Meaning of Peace
The original text for the word “peace” means harmony, security, and rest. That’s what Jesus brings into our lives. Because we follow Him, He gives us the ability to make peace. When we do, He promises we “will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). So when Jesus said we are blessed when we bring peace, it is because being a peacemaker allows us to feel the depth of our being His children.
Some people will go to great lengths to prove themselves right over doing what is right. Pride and arrogance convince them that laying aside differences is a sign of weakness. But if we can catch God’s vision of what it looks like to be a peacemaker—to bring harmony, security, and rest to a difficult situation—it will allow us to feel secure and at rest in the midst of conflict.
Becoming a Conduit of Peace
As we let go of petty stuff, we are peacemakers. When we are the first to say, “I’m sorry,” we give peace. When we talk calmly, rather than yelling, we bring peace to the situation. By learning to give peace the way we receive peace from Jesus, His peace flows through us. Being a peacemaker is challenging and doesn’t come naturally. In every conflict, though, we can certainly bring peaceful resolution, harmony, security, and rest.
I’m praying for peace for all of us individually as well as for nations and their leaders. Will you join me?
A Prayer for Peace
Dear Lord,
Help me keep my eyes on You as the ultimate peacemaker in difficult circumstances,
and to bring peace to any conflict we have with others.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
About the Author
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries of Pittsburg, TX. She has been a contributor to Bound for Life and written numerous articles published in LifeNews, Christian Post, and The Baptist Standard. She is the author of Go Tell It!
📧 Contact: caryjohnefurdministries@gmail.com
🌐 Visit: Second Mile Blog at debbyefurd.com
