Peace in the Midst of Conflict

How we can move toward experiencing the peace Jesus offers in the midst of the chaos we often experience...especially during the holidays.

Dec 10, 2024

Prefer to listen? Subscribe to The Lighthouse Podcast!

If I sit quietly with God and consider what my heart longs for most, one answer rises to the surface almost every time: peace.

My guess is that’s a core longing for you too. Life is filled with so much conflict—both around us and within us—that peace often feels elusive.

The Inner Conflict We Carry

Most of us live with near-constant inner conflict.

Just the other morning, I woke up feeling overwhelmed. I was coming back from a few days off and facing a mountain of work. My daughter had been battling pneumonia, my wife caught another virus, and I felt discouraged that sickness seems to cling to our family. Extended family members were struggling with physical and mental health issues, and I felt sad for them. On top of that, friends were wrestling with the challenges of parenting and marriage, and I couldn’t stop worrying about them.

All of this hit me before 6 a.m.

Maybe you’ve had mornings like that too.

We long for peace because we’re overwhelmed by conflict. It might be emotional turmoil, relational strain, work stress, or just the noise of the world pressing in. Whatever the source, the ache for peace is universal.

So, what do we do with this longing? Let’s explore the problem of conflict, the promise of peace, and a few practical steps to pursue it.

The Problem of Conflict

The reality is that we live with a near-constant sense of conflict. Some of it is external, but much of it is internal. Naming these conflicts can help us better understand and overcome them.

Here are four common conflicts many of us experience:

1. Guilt and Shame

The residue of sin leaves us feeling unworthy, condemned, or distant from God. This deep inner conflict can make peace feel impossible.

2. Anxiety and Fear

Our own insecurities, the chaos of the world, and spiritual battles disrupt our trust in God’s power and control. This fuels worry about the future and fear of others’ opinions.

3. Discontentment

A restless heart, driven by dissatisfaction and comparison, keeps us chasing after what we don’t have. The result? Endless striving and little peace.

4. Relational Brokenness

Pride, bitterness, anger, and envy fracture our relationships, leaving us isolated and resentful. Sometimes these conflicts feel beyond repair, adding to our grief.

My point is, conflict is constant in our lives. What I would invite you to do is take just a moment even now and name the conflict(s), you’re currently experiencing? Maybe it’s one of these I’ve mentioned, or maybe it’s something entirely different. But take a moment and name the conflict you’re carrying. Now, the presence of that conflict raises a question: What does it mean that Jesus is our Prince of Peace?

The Promise of Peace

The longing for peace isn’t new. It’s woven into the story of humanity and addressed directly in Scripture.

The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of Jesus, calling Him the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). But when Jesus came, the world didn’t immediately become peaceful. His life was marked by conflict, and so is ours.

So as we contemplate “peace” this second week of Advent, what does it mean that Jesus is our Prince of Peace?

In Ephesians 2 Paul address how Jesus, the Prince of Peace, through His life, death, and resurrection, brought about the end of conflict between Jews and Gentiles:

“For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.”
Ephesians 2:15-15 CSB

Jesus brings peace in three profound ways:

Peace with God: Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus reconciled us to God, removing the burden of guilt and shame.
Peace within Ourselves: Knowing we are fully loved and accepted by God calms our inner storms.
Peace with Others: Jesus’ sacrifice dismantled barriers of hostility, calling us to pursue reconciliation in our relationships.

This peace doesn’t eliminate conflict entirely—that’s a promise for the future (Revelation 21:4). But it does invite us to experience a deeper, lasting peace even now.

Practical Steps Toward Peace

Finding peace in a world of conflict isn’t easy, but it is possible. Here are three practical steps to help you move toward greater peace in your daily life:

Practice Stillness

Now, instead of prescribing how you practice stillness, let me pose a question: What environments, activities, or experiences bring you the most profound sense of stillness in God’s presence? Perhaps you find solace in silence, Lectio Divina, centering, or imaginative prayer. Alternatively, you might feel most still in God’s presence during a walk or while mindfully listening to a specific piece of music. Identify the environments, activities, and experiences that resonate with you the most and make an effort to engage in them more frequently. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The objective is to cultivate a deeper connection with God, not to achieve perfection.

Prioritize Margin

One of the most unfortunate and unhealthy aspects of Western culture is our tendency to maximize every second of the day for productivity. We worship at the altar of busyness, and it’s destroying our well-being. I’ve been guilty of this, especially in the past couple of weeks. I’ve filled almost every minute of my calendar, leading to a lot of stress. Unfortunately, we often can’t control this at work. However, we can control how we use our time, how many social engagements we commit to, and how many non-essential activities dominate our lives. So, consider taking a fresh look at when and where you can prioritize more margin.

Pursue Reconciliation

I don’t know about you, but unresolved conflicts in my relationships are the worst thing that can rob me of peace. It’s like a rock in my shoe, constantly nagging at me. Some of it is due to my own dysfunction, but some of it is because conflict is against God’s design for relationships. Unfortunately, it’s an inevitable part of life.

Instead of resisting or avoiding it, we need to pursue reconciliation whenever possible. This means being quick to acknowledge our faults and apologize. It also means choosing humility and forgiveness when others genuinely apologize.

However, I always want to remind you that sometimes reconciliation isn’t possible. There has to be true repentance and restitution. If someone has a long pattern of damaging dysfunction and no plan for change, you shouldn’t feel obligated to pursue reconciliation with them. There’s wisdom in Paul’s words in Romans 12:18: “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Sometimes, you aren’t the one making reconciliation impossible. But when and where it’s appropriate, pursue reconciliation.

Finding Peace in His Presence

Jesus invites us to experience the peace of His presence in every moment.

Take a moment to reflect:

Where do you need His peace today?
Is it in a restless heart weighed down by anxiety or fear?
A broken relationship that feels beyond repair?
The noise of the world that steals your sense of calm?

Whatever it is, hear this: Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and He’s not distant from your struggles. He’s right here, offering His presence to calm your inner storms, steady your heart, and remind you that even in chaos, He is with you.

So take a moment to surrender your conflicts to Him. Invite Him to bring His peace into the areas where you need it most. And remember that peace isn’t just a fleeting feeling. It’s a gift from Jesus—real, lasting, and available to you right now.