Rediscovering Faith

Pursue Peace

Rev. Evan Ryder Season 5 Episode 20

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0:00 | 11:36

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Conclude this week's journey of untangling from enmity with this action-oriented episode about actively pursuing peace. Based on Psalm 34:14, we learn that peace doesn't just happen—it is something we must actively pursue. After learning about shalom, overcoming evil with good, choosing compassion, and letting Christ be our peace, today we address the action required: you must pursue peace, not wait for it.

What You'll Learn:

  • Why peace requires active pursuit, not passive waiting
  • What it means to "seek peace and pursue it"
  • Why we fall into the passivity trap instead of pursuing peace
  • How to handle the risk of pursuing peace when there's no guarantee of response
  • A practical untangle moment to move from passivity to active pursuit

Seek Peace: David says "seek peace." Seeking means looking for it, prioritizing it, making it your goal. It's not accidental—you don't stumble into peace. 

Pursue It: Then David says "pursue it." Pursue is even stronger than seek—it means to chase after something, to go after it with intention and effort. 

The Passivity Trap: We're passive—we think "If I just wait long enough, this will resolve itself." But it won't. Unresolved conflict doesn't heal with time; it festers. 

Peace Doesn't Just Happen: Peace doesn't just happen. You can't wait it out, can't avoid your way to peace, can't hope that time will fix it. Peace requires someone to move, to take the first step, to initiate the conversation, to extend the olive branch. And David is saying: let that someone be you. 

The Risk of Pursuit: Pursuing peace is risky. You might be rejected. The other person might not respond the way you hope, might not be ready, might not care. But you're not responsible for their response—you're responsible for your pursuit. 

Your Untangle Moment: Identify one relationship where you've been passive about conflict, then practice untangling by actively pursuing peace with one intentional step. 

Perfect for anyone avoiding hard conversations, waiting for peace to happen on its own, or learning that peacemaking requires action, not passivity.

Scripture Focus: Psalm 34:14 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Enmity

Learn to actively pursue peace instead of passively waiting for it to happen and take concrete steps toward reconciliation.