What makes you feel at peace? For me, it’s pretty simple—I love creating. When I stop creating, I soon start to feel different in my spirit. I was made to create, whether that be a painting, a book, a poem, a home, or even peace itself.

Recently during a podcast, the host began to speak about peacekeepers and peacemakers. I hadn’t ever really thought about the fact that there is a definitive difference between the two, but there is. The element that differentiates these two types of people is fear. Peacekeepers fear peace being lost, whereas peacemakers aren’t marked by such fear. Peacekeepers will stifle their voices, avoid people, avoid situations, or compromise their integrity in order to hold on to peace. Peacemakers are not worried about holding on to peace because they understand peace lives inside of them, and they have the ability to create it with their own two hands.

There have been times in my life where I’ve felt myself cross over into the peacekeeper category, whether it be apologizing for something I wasn’t sorry for or didn’t even do, take the heat for something, keep silent when I should speak up, walk on eggshells or avoid having conversations altogether with emotionally immature people. Even before I could assign a name to what it was I was doing, these things always felt very wrong deep down inside, and I learned to correct my behavior over the years.

What are the qualities of peacemakers?

They understand where their peace comes from. Peacemakers understand that peace comes from God, and when the Holy Spirit lives inside of them, they have the ability to create peace for themselves, and that peace can then be shared with others. They understand their peace cannot be taken away from them because the God of peace never runs out.

They are moved to minister to others. Peacemakers have a goal of reconciling people to one another, to themselves, and to Christ.

They are not afraid of expressing themselves, and if they are, they push themselves to do so anyway. Peacemakers will not stifle their voices or avoid conflict. Instead, they face things head on, but they do so with compassion, respect, and kindness. They act in obedience, operate in their purposes, and they aren’t afraid to stand out and say the things or do the things that no one else is saying or doing. In this way, you could say peacemakers are actually leaders.

They are quick to repent when they have wronged others, but they also attempt to reconcile even with those who have wronged them. This does not mean they allow others to mistreat them nor does it mean they necessarily give someone a second chance. What it does mean is they forgive and make that known if the opportunity presents itself. Peacemakers never retaliate or exact revenge.

They understand peace comes from within not from a lack of conflict. Peacekeepers’ idea of peace is actually an illusion. Just because they choose not to have a confrontation, doesn’t mean the conflict doesn’t exist. The problem is, the conflict, when we choose not to confront it, becomes an inside problem instead of an outside one. Peacekeepers are then left with inner turmoil that may manifest either consciously or subconsciously, but it doesn’t just disappear. Peacemakers realize the importance of confrontation.

They handle confrontation with compassion. You can’t have one without the other and still have peace. If we are filled with love and compassion, but don’t have the strength to confront, we become lazy, weak, vulnerable, and even targeted. If we become confrontational, but it’s not done in love, we will be met with resistance. Confrontation and compassion must go hand in hand.

They understand the difference between comfort and peace. Peacemakers don’t idolize comfort; they are willing to do the hard thing though it may not feel good in that the moment.

Lastly, they can create an atmosphere of peace. Peacemakers are gifted and effective in creating their own peace. This is how they are able to share it with others. Peacemakers’ peace is not dependent on other people or other circumstances but on God alone.

God created His children to be peacemakers as we were in made in His image. We were created as vessels for a peace that surpasses all understanding and continues to exist despite all circumstances. We lose sight of who we are when we begin to chase peace instead of God. God is peace, not the other way around. Peacemakers’ peace comes from He who is peace, and it’s multiplied by our own two hands.