Lord, how long will You continually forget me? How long will You hide your face from me? How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me? Consider me and answer, Lord, my God. Restore brightness to my eyes; otherwise, I will sleep in death, my enemy will say, “I have triumphed over him,” and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously.
When you are troubled and are disturbed with opposition, it can be a difficult existence if not downright depressing. It requires calling on God for comfort and being resilient in Him. It requires trusting in Him, regardless of what you see before you. God has brought us along to where we are, and you can never be a peacemaker as long as you are fearful and troubled. Rejoice in who you are in Jesus Christ. You can’t be a peacemaker unless you are at peace with God and within yourself.
Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:33
The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.
Ephesians 2:14
For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility.
Peace is a “relationship” word…you can be at peace with others and within yourself.
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.
All of the fears that we may have are put aside because you find comfort in who you are in the Lord.
Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Peace comes from spending time with Jesus. Distractions can divert you away from Jesus, which also will likely take you away from peace.
Luke 10:38-42
While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”
A peacemaker acts as God would have them to act. As He is willing to listen to us in our prayers and forgive our own sins, we are to listen to others and not hold grudges.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
We are to follow that which promotes and allows for peace.
Romans 14:19
So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.
Proverbs 12:20
Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.
The peacemaker has victory because of being at peace with himself, with a willingness to learn more and to move forward.
Philippians 4:11-13
I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content–whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.
The peacemaker acts in confidence because he acts with the confidence of God in everything he does.
Proverbs 3:25-26
Don’t fear sudden danger or the ruin of the wicked when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from a snare.
Psalm 119:143
Trouble and distress have overtaken me, but Your commands are my delight.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 