Habits of Hope: Cultivating a Deeper Life with God

46.Peacemaker or Peacekeeper? How Jesus Calls Us to Respond to Conflict

• Ginger Harrington • Season 1 • Episode 46

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Peace Isn’t Passive. Want real peace? Be the peacemaker.

In today’s episode of the Habits of Hope Podcast, we’re diving deep into Matthew 5:9 to explore what Jesus really meant when He said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

This isn't about keeping the peace—it’s about biblical conflict resolution that reflects the heart of God.

We’ll talk about:

  • Peacemaking is an active, courageous choice.
  • Avoiding conflict does not lead to true peace.
  • Jesus exemplified the role of a peacemaker.
  • Peacemakers are called children of God for their actions.
  • Conflict resolution is about restoring relationships, not winning arguments.
  • Personal experiences can illustrate the importance of peacemaking.
  • Clarity comes from honest and intentional communication.
  • Avoiding hard conversations can affect your health and energy.
  • We can choose our discomfort in the pursuit of peace.
  • Prayer is a powerful tool in seeking reconciliation.


Whether you’re navigating tension in a relationship, feeling worn down by emotional avoidance, or just longing for peace in your daily life, this episode will help you live out your calling as a child of God and bringer of peace.

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Habits of Hope Podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

Larissa Traquair (00:04.206)

Do you ever find yourself dodging difficult conversations? Not because you don't care, but because you're tired of the tension? Maybe it's easier to stay silent, to scroll past, to hope things blow over. You tell yourself it's not worth the drama. I'll just keep the peace. But what if real peace isn't found in keeping quiet, but in courageously stepping into the tension with God's heart? Today's habit helps us do just that, because peacemaking


isn't passive. It's a holy, hopeful act of courage, a choice to bring peace where it's needed most. Welcome to the Habits of Hope podcast, where we believe a life rooted in hope grows through daily rhythms that help us trust God's faithfulness, even in life's hardest seasons. I'm Larissa Jaqueira, and I'm so glad you're here. Summer shifts our pace. Routines change, schedules blur, and even the good things can leave us feeling


a little soul tired. That's why for the next few weeks we're pressing pause with a special series, Habits of Peace, because stress doesn't get the final word. These short episodes are your toolkit of biblical peace practices, simple, powerful habits to steady your heart and renew your mind wherever you are. Less pressure, more peace, one habit at a time, because a deeper life starts now.


Today's habit of peace, or what we like to call stress buster, is this. Reach out with courage because peacemaking isn't passive. Peace doesn't come from pretending everything's fine or hoping conflict will fizzle out on its own. Jesus calls us to be peacemakers, not peace avoiders. That means we don't wait for others to fix things or for emotions to settle. Instead, we take the first step, offering a kind word, seeking reconciliation.


or showing up with gentleness when it would be easier to shut down. Peace grows when we move toward people with God's heart, especially when it's awkward, risky, or uncomfortable. That's the steady, brave work of a peacemaker. Peacemaking begins with one small step of courage in the direction of grace. If this sounds hard or impossible, then know that you are in good company, as I feel the same way.


Larissa Traquair (02:29.238)

I was not taught to be a peacemaker. was taught growing up to avoid conflict because it was safer that way. We are not alone on this journey as Jesus set a great example for us to follow. Let's dive into scripture and see what we can find as you settle into today's episode. Matthew five nine out of the NIV. Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God. Peace doesn't grow through avoidance. It grows through.


Action. My therapist reminds me often that we learn through repetition and to repeat something requires action. I've learned this firsthand and though it hasn't been easy to get to this healthier place, I am glad to be here. When Jesus spoke these words, he wasn't offering a self-help tip or personality trait. He was describing the character of those who belong to his kingdom. Here's some context on Matthew 5.


Matthew 5 is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus redefines what it means to live in alignment with God's Kingdom. Each beatitude flips worldly values upside down. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the peacemakers. Each one paints a picture of a heart shaped by God's mercy, humility, and peace. Let's explore the definition and contrast between


peacemaker versus peacekeeper. The word peacemaker in Matthew 5 9 comes from the Greek and I'm going to butcher this so I apologize, rhonopias combining your own, peace and poeo to make, create or bring about.


This isn't just keeping things calm. It's the courageous and creative work of making peace where it doesn't yet exist. A peacekeeper avoids conflict, suppresses tension for that surface calm. A peacemaker moves toward conflict with humility and truth. Peacekeepers manage tension. Peacemakers restore what's been broken. Jesus didn't say blessed are the peacekeepers.


Larissa Traquair (04:45.848)

for a reason. Peacemaking is active, intentional, and relational. It requires humility, grace, and truth, and reflects the heart of the Father. That's why peacemakers are called children of God, because they resemble Him both in word and action. Let's talk about application and some reflection. Think for a moment, where in your life is peace missing? A conversation you've been avoiding?


a relationship that feels tense, a silence that used to be laughter. Peacemaking doesn't always mean solving everything. It just starts with one simple step, praying for someone who hurt you, softening your tone, reopening a door that's been closed. Biblical conflict resolution isn't about winning. It's about restoring. And I want to share from my personal experience what I've learned the hard way.


I have mentioned two stories at least once since we launched the podcast that were conflict related and uncomfortable, and they each ended differently. I won't repeat the entire stories, but I think they are a great example of the difference that peacemaking can make. One experience was with a friend who I had a disagreement with, and she came back to the proverbial table to reconcile after she had time to think and pray. The contrasting example is a very difficult ministry meeting that left all of us


unsure and frustrated and with no resolution. I've had to face several very difficult situations with Christians and it's always uncomfortable. I can however share some benefits and some pitfalls from my personal experience to help make the point of the importance of peacemaking. I have learned over the years that though peacemaking is inevitably uncomfortable, it is worth it because we are worth it and so are the people we do life with.


One of the benefits I have found from being honest and intentional is clarity. Both parties get to know what the other is thinking and resolve things peacefully. With my friend, we were both able to be honest with each other and restore our friendship, and we are still the nearest and dearest friends today. She has been such a sweet blessing in my life, and I would have missed out on so much if we had not reconciled. And I believe she would say the same.


Larissa Traquair (07:11.692)

One of the pitfalls of avoiding hard conversations or not reconciling is that it can affect your health. Zap your energy as you just spin your proverbial emotional wheels and there is no clarity. So there is no resolution. The sad part is, is when things are left unresolved, feelings are hurt. There is confusion that can fester and healing doesn't happen. This is not what God wants for us. This is not the abundant life Jesus died for.


Both the benefits and pitfalls remind me that peacemaking isn't always comfortable, but it is worth it. Remember, we get to choose our uncomfortable. We can choose to feel the pain for a little while while seeking restoration, or we can spend a lifetime wondering and ruminating and never seeing resolution. Unfortunately, sometimes we have no control outside of doing what God called us to do. But where we can, we are called in Romans 12, 18 to live in peace with everyone.


So let's take some time to reflect. Where is God inviting you to be a peacemaker? Ask him to show you one space, one relationship, or one moment this week where you can move toward peace with courage and compassion. Let's pray together. Lord, thank you for calling us to more than surface peace. You are the true peacemaker and we want to follow your lead. Give us courage to move toward others with humility, even when it's uncomfortable. Soften our hearts.


steady our words and guide our steps into the places where peace feels far away. Help us reflect your heart, creating calm in the chaos and healing where there's been hurt. Make us bold in love and faithful in forgiveness. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. So friend, peacemaking may feel risky, but with Jesus, you never step in it alone. Every time you choose to speak peace, show up with gentleness


or take that first brave step toward reconciliation, you reflect the heart of your father. You don't have to fix it all. You just have to step forward in faith. And when you do, you live in Matthew 5, 9, a beloved child of God, bringing peace into a broken world. If this message encouraged you, would you take a moment to share it with someone who might need it today? And here's a little teaser for the next episode. In our next episode, we're talking about what to do


Larissa Traquair  (09:39.294)

when you've lost your peace. Those moments when stress, control, or self-reliance take over. We'll look at Romans 8-6 and explore how to return to peace by shifting from a self-governed mindset to a spirit-led surrender. If peace has felt like it slipped through your fingers, this one's for you.