Finding Peace in the Midst of Conflict
Are you as tired of discord and a combative attitude as I am? I’m weary of exaggerations, name-calling, and lies to put others down and gain advantage. I hoped after the election we would find a measure of peace, it hasn’t happened. In fact, it seems more discordant because our very system of government is being challenged when it’s time to seek unity.
What is a Christian to do? How do you find peace in the midst of conflict and strife?
Sticking my head in the sand by fasting the news is tempting, but I haven’t resorted to that yet, because I feel like I can pray more specifically if I’m informed.
However, I’m beginning to doubt that it helps my pray. Watching news disturbs my peace.
The hostility, lack of civility and respect, and the open war on authority remain shocking. It seems we’ve lost our moors as a nation, and maybe as a world.
Where are we headed? More importantly, what can we do? How can we maintain our peace and hope in the midst of the uncertainty and strife?
We need to First, know that the Lord God is sovereign. He is the ruler of heaven and earth, and He is firmly in control. He’s not surprised or overwhelmed by our circumstances. I believe He allowed it to draw us to Himself.
In the Old Testament, time after time the children of God turned their backs on the Lord and their nation suffered strife and destruction. Many times, God warned that it would happen long before it did, such as telling Abraham that his children would be enslaved for hundreds of years.
Later, Jeremiah was used to warn of the destruction of Jerusalem and captivity of the people. God allowed it and through it all, He worked out His plan. He used the hard times for good.
In fact, He told us that, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
We can maintain peace in the midst of conflict through resting in Him as He works His purposes out.
Second, we need to seek Him in the midst of the chaos. Any report we hear tells only part of the story. Consequently, we don’t fully understand anything that is happening, and we likely only have one side of the story.
Therefore, we need to be careful that we “trust in the Lord with all [our hearts], And lean not on [our] own understanding; in all [our] ways acknowledge Him, [so that He can] direct [our] paths (Prov. 3:5-6).
If we heed our own understanding, we’ll likely make a fool of ourselves and add to the confusion, if not to the strife.
However, if each of us obediently follows the Lord, He will guide. Like an orchestra, we’ll be assigned various parts and play at differing times for different effects. But if we’re following the same director, it will be pleasant, harmonious, and will accomplish His purpose.
Third, listen to God. Seek Him in His Word. Philippians 4 offers good advice that has guided me when I’m tempted to straighten somebody out. It also gives a couple of guidelines for maintaining peace in the midst of conflict. Through it, I’m learning to represent God and find peace.
“4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy– meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:4-9).
May we all learn to follow these precepts, and experience His life and peace–even in the midst of turmoil and strife.