As I sit to write this post, I completed a google search of “men and peace.” Let me tell you, there are many people offering advice about peace. Some say you can never have inner or outer peace in your life. It’s impossible. We’re built for war, conflict, and competition (especially as men), so we will never know peace.
Others will tell you that peace can be attained. You can have it if you banish all negativity from your life, have a bank account that overflows, be in a powerful position, or have sexual prowess.
Both of these solutions don’t hold water for me. What about you? I’d hate to think that life is either all about struggle or building yourself up as some kind of untouchable king. I need more than that. I need to look in the mirror every day and know with certainty that I’m at peace with myself and those around me.
I’ve let you know that I’m reading through Luke’s biblical account of Jesus through the month of December. Today I read chapter 2. If you know Luke’s account of Jesus, you know that chapter 2 is about the birth of Jesus. In this story, there is a specific word about peace.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14
As I was thinking about this, three things came to mind. First, peace can happen. Even when there are external and internal wars, peace is a possibility. The shepherds who heard this word were going about their usual routines. Life did not immediately change for them, and they weren’t magically taken out of their problems.
Secondly, peace comes from a higher external source. The angels say that peace is God’s character and issues from him. People don’t have the capacity for sustained peace created by themselves.
Thirdly, this peace of God can be received. This idea of “peace” is interesting. The word for peace is the Hebrew word, Shalom. Shalom is characterized by inner well-being and wholeness despite what is occurring around us. Shalom is realized even if all hell is breaking out around you. It is not a drummed-up peace found in the proper use of mindfulness, and it’s a peace whose source originates outside you and me. It’s a confident well-being that happens even though the demons of life rage against you. This peace comes from God to his people, and this text suggests that peace only occurs when our lives are inhabited by the presence of this God.
What do you think?
Let me say this - it can be hard for men to have an inner peace that transforms outer circumstances. But I believe it can happen when God’s presence is in you. The problem so many of us face is that multiple areas of our lives are not peaceful. There might be chaos in your relationships, at your job, in your finances, and with your kids. That’s not unusual. You might just have this inner sense that some things are off, and you are not at peace with what’s going on in your life. But let me tell you that I’m convinced that peace is achievable in every area of our lives. God’s plan is for peace.
If you’re currently struggling with chaos in places where you wish there was peace, let’s talk. We can figure out what’s missing and work to bring wholeness and peace to those chaotic places. It begins with you answering the question: “What’s broken, and what do I want?”
If you’re dragging yourself over the finish line of 2022, let’s work to get you a better start in 2023. Use the link to reach out.