Matthew 5:38–48 (KJV)
“Resist not evil… love your enemies… pray for them which despitefully use you.”
Bless those who wrong you.
Enemy-love
Jesus didn’t say to choose our battles. He said stop trying to make it right our way. We must choose to bless those who wrong us without playing judge and jury. We wait on God’s timing with prayer and restraint.
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves… for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” — Romans 12:19
Peace as obedience
We’re not chasing “good vibes.” We’re deciding to follow Jesus when the cross gets heavy. When we get pushed down, spit on, laughed at, misunderstood, rejected, falsely accused, and we feel that we can’t keep going, Jesus has already been there. He knows the weight, and He will guide us one step at a time. Because He promised us that.
Repair
We need to own our wrongs and make them right as best we can. Not by pretending nothing happened or finding ways to wiggle out of confessing sins. We simply keep truth and love in our hearts and ask forgiveness when we know we’re wrong. We can’t repent truly without the Holy Spirit. That kind of heart takes faith.
Scripture Foundation
These passages shape what we mean by peace.
Romans 12:17–21 (KJV)
“Recompense to no man evil for evil… overcome evil with good.”
1 Peter 2:21–23 (KJV)
“When he was reviled, reviled not again… but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.”
2 Corinthians 5:18–20 (KJV)
“The ministry of reconciliation… be ye reconciled to God.”
James 3:17–18 (KJV)
“First pure, then peaceable, gentle… and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace.”
(KJV references shown for clarity. Full passages can be read in any Bible translation you trust.)
What this is
A commitment to follow Jesus in conflict
Strength without domination
Truth spoken without cruelty
Boundaries that don’t need revenge
Repair when possible
What this isn’t
Avoidance dressed up as “peace”
Pretending harm didn’t happen
Letting people control you
Silence when truth is required
Agreeing with wrongdoing
Keep the Peace
Peace doesn’t mean there’s no conflict. It means we can deal with it without turning into it. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18 (KJV)
1. Slow Down
You don’t have to answer in the middle of a heated debate. That’s where Satan likes to slip in and get you to say something in anger that fans the flames. Feeding the fire isn’t the goal. Ask Jesus to help you through those moments, then give yourself some distance and time to cool down before things get worse. “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26–27 (KJV) (KJV)
2. Keep It Simple
Don’t make things worse by bringing out all your evidence and calling in eyewitnesses. No courtroom tone. Just say what happened, and remember Jesus is listening. “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:2 (KJV).
3. Choose the Cross, Not the Ego
Ask yourself: what response keeps my conscience clear, even if I don’t know where this is going? “Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you… they may be ashamed.” — 1 Peter 3:16 (KJV)
4. Don’t Burn the Bridge
Offer a clear next step. Not five to ten, and not a negotiation maze. Remember not to give up on people. Jesus said to keep forgiving, again and again and again. Offer forgiveness without limits. Not the “I forgive, but I won’t forget” kind. Real, clean-slate forgiveness. Just leave it in the past. “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?… Jesus saith unto him… Until seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21–22 (KJV)
5. Let God Handle the Timing
Reconciliation takes two hearts. If the other person won’t change, ask the Lord to help you love them the way He loves us. Then keep the door open and let God handle the timing. He can turn things around, and His timing is never off. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (KJV)
Need a friend to talk to? We’re here for you, and so is Jesus.
If you’re carrying a burden, fear about tomorrow, guilt about yesterday, or anything else, you don’t have to hold it in or keep it to yourself. Jesus is near, and He’s patient. One honest word to Him is enough to start. He loves hearing from you, and we do too. We can pray with you, or you can take it to Jesus right now. Either way, you’re not alone.