Peace in a Culture of Conflict
“Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” – Proverbs 3:17
We live in an age of conflict.
Our headlines are filled with stories of wars, political feuds, and ideological fractures. Social media platforms function less like community gathering spaces and more like digital battlegrounds. Even among Christians, conflict is increasingly normalized—if not celebrated—as a sign of conviction or boldness.
In a culture this loud, tense, and divided, peace can feel like a distant ideal, better suited for the Psalms than for real life. But Proverbs, that earthy and practical book of wisdom, insists otherwise. “All her paths are peace,” it says (Prov. 3:17). Wisdom doesn’t lead us toward more chaos, more division, or more grudges. Wisdom leads us into peace.
So why does that path feel so hard to walk?
The Obstacles to Peace
Proverbs is not naïve. It doesn’t assume peace comes naturally or easily. It names the barriers clearly—and in the process, it helps us examine our own hearts.
1. Anger & Resentment
Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”
Anger is perhaps the most socially acceptable sin in our age. Whether it’s expressed as outrage online or quiet bitterness offline, many of us live with low-grade fury in our souls. Sometimes that anger is loud—shouting matches, sarcasm, short tempers. But often, it’s quiet: the cold shoulder, the silent treatment, the replayed offense that simmers just beneath the surface.
Wisdom teaches us that anger, when left unresolved, erodes peace from within. It is no friend of reconciliation, and it often masks deeper issues—pride, pain, fear of vulnerability. The gospel calls us not merely to manage anger but to crucify it, remembering that Christ bore the wrath of God on our behalf so we could extend mercy to others.
2. Pride
“By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom” (Prov. 13:10).
How many conflicts persist—not because the issue is unsolvable—but because neither party is willing to admit fault? Pride keeps us from apologizing. It convinces us we’re always the victim. It exaggerates offenses and minimizes our sin.
The cross of Christ obliterates pride. It reminds us that we are sinners who contributed to the conflict between man and God. And it also reminds us that reconciliation is possible—not through defensiveness, but through humility. Jesus made peace by going first. So should we.
3. Greed & Control
Proverbs 28:25 says, “A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.”
Greed doesn’t always look like money. Often, it looks like control—an unwillingness to release a relationship, an outcome, or a reputation into God’s hands. When we insist on our way, our narrative, our comfort, we create conflict that could be avoided by trust in God’s sovereignty.
Peace grows where trust in God deepens. When we believe He sees, He knows, and He will act, we are free to let go of what we cannot control.
The Peace of Christ
Jesus is not merely a model of peacemaking—He is our peace (Eph. 2:14). The most essential conflict in all of history was the one between a holy God and sinful humanity. And Jesus resolved it—not by minimizing sin, but by dealing with it at the cross.
In doing so, He gave us more than a clean slate. He gave us a new heart and His Spirit, who produces in us what we cannot produce in ourselves: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… (Gal. 5:22–23). This means that any step we take toward peace—whether in a marriage, friendship, church, or workplace—is empowered by the Spirit and rooted in the gospel.
Christians are not called to be peace-fakers or peace-breakers, but peace-makers (Matt. 5:9). And making peace takes initiative, humility, and courage. But it also brings joy, healing, and unity that reflects the heart of our King.
A Call to Action
Pastor Tim’s challenge from Sunday was simple: Cure the conflict before it ruins the relationship.
It’s not just pastoral advice. It’s gospel wisdom.
So where do you start?
• Search your heart. Ask the Spirit to reveal unresolved anger, relational pride, or an unwillingness to trust God in a difficult relationship.
• Own your part. Even if the conflict isn’t entirely your fault, consider your contribution. Repentance is the first step on the path of peace.
• Initiate reconciliation. Make the call. Schedule the conversation. Send the text. Don’t wait for the perfect moment—wisdom acts with urgency.
•. Forgive by grace. Remember what you’ve been forgiven, and allow the mercy of Christ to soften your heart toward others.
Final Reflection
Peace is not the absence of tension. It’s the presence of Christ in the midst of it.
The world offers temporary truces. Jesus offers lasting peace.
So don’t just wish for it. Walk in it.
Because all her paths are peace—and Jesus is walking that path with you.
We live in an age of conflict.
Our headlines are filled with stories of wars, political feuds, and ideological fractures. Social media platforms function less like community gathering spaces and more like digital battlegrounds. Even among Christians, conflict is increasingly normalized—if not celebrated—as a sign of conviction or boldness.
In a culture this loud, tense, and divided, peace can feel like a distant ideal, better suited for the Psalms than for real life. But Proverbs, that earthy and practical book of wisdom, insists otherwise. “All her paths are peace,” it says (Prov. 3:17). Wisdom doesn’t lead us toward more chaos, more division, or more grudges. Wisdom leads us into peace.
So why does that path feel so hard to walk?
The Obstacles to Peace
Proverbs is not naïve. It doesn’t assume peace comes naturally or easily. It names the barriers clearly—and in the process, it helps us examine our own hearts.
1. Anger & Resentment
Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”
Anger is perhaps the most socially acceptable sin in our age. Whether it’s expressed as outrage online or quiet bitterness offline, many of us live with low-grade fury in our souls. Sometimes that anger is loud—shouting matches, sarcasm, short tempers. But often, it’s quiet: the cold shoulder, the silent treatment, the replayed offense that simmers just beneath the surface.
Wisdom teaches us that anger, when left unresolved, erodes peace from within. It is no friend of reconciliation, and it often masks deeper issues—pride, pain, fear of vulnerability. The gospel calls us not merely to manage anger but to crucify it, remembering that Christ bore the wrath of God on our behalf so we could extend mercy to others.
2. Pride
“By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom” (Prov. 13:10).
How many conflicts persist—not because the issue is unsolvable—but because neither party is willing to admit fault? Pride keeps us from apologizing. It convinces us we’re always the victim. It exaggerates offenses and minimizes our sin.
The cross of Christ obliterates pride. It reminds us that we are sinners who contributed to the conflict between man and God. And it also reminds us that reconciliation is possible—not through defensiveness, but through humility. Jesus made peace by going first. So should we.
3. Greed & Control
Proverbs 28:25 says, “A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.”
Greed doesn’t always look like money. Often, it looks like control—an unwillingness to release a relationship, an outcome, or a reputation into God’s hands. When we insist on our way, our narrative, our comfort, we create conflict that could be avoided by trust in God’s sovereignty.
Peace grows where trust in God deepens. When we believe He sees, He knows, and He will act, we are free to let go of what we cannot control.
The Peace of Christ
Jesus is not merely a model of peacemaking—He is our peace (Eph. 2:14). The most essential conflict in all of history was the one between a holy God and sinful humanity. And Jesus resolved it—not by minimizing sin, but by dealing with it at the cross.
In doing so, He gave us more than a clean slate. He gave us a new heart and His Spirit, who produces in us what we cannot produce in ourselves: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… (Gal. 5:22–23). This means that any step we take toward peace—whether in a marriage, friendship, church, or workplace—is empowered by the Spirit and rooted in the gospel.
Christians are not called to be peace-fakers or peace-breakers, but peace-makers (Matt. 5:9). And making peace takes initiative, humility, and courage. But it also brings joy, healing, and unity that reflects the heart of our King.
A Call to Action
Pastor Tim’s challenge from Sunday was simple: Cure the conflict before it ruins the relationship.
It’s not just pastoral advice. It’s gospel wisdom.
So where do you start?
• Search your heart. Ask the Spirit to reveal unresolved anger, relational pride, or an unwillingness to trust God in a difficult relationship.
• Own your part. Even if the conflict isn’t entirely your fault, consider your contribution. Repentance is the first step on the path of peace.
• Initiate reconciliation. Make the call. Schedule the conversation. Send the text. Don’t wait for the perfect moment—wisdom acts with urgency.
•. Forgive by grace. Remember what you’ve been forgiven, and allow the mercy of Christ to soften your heart toward others.
Final Reflection
Peace is not the absence of tension. It’s the presence of Christ in the midst of it.
The world offers temporary truces. Jesus offers lasting peace.
So don’t just wish for it. Walk in it.
Because all her paths are peace—and Jesus is walking that path with you.
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