For many years, I lived under the false principle that I must maintain peace at all costs. Living this way led me to sacrifice the passions that God had put in my heart.
I remember very clearly the day that my mentor/coach Chris challenged me in this area. He said to me: “Kevin, you have sacrificed your passions for peace.”
It hit me like a ton of bricks.
I believed this was what God was calling me to do. I believed that all conflict was bad. I believed that it was wrong for me to express my God given passions.
The problem was, I was settling for a false peace and I was dying inside because I wasn’t living out my God-given passions.
I was seeking my acceptance, security and significance in what others thought of me and not from God.
I was not living the abundant life that Jesus came to give!
This realization (amongst many others) began a process of renewal in my life.
I began to recognize and appreciate the passions that God had instilled with in me.
I began to overcome my insecurities and started to express those passions to those around me.
I began to become the me that God wanted me to be and not the me that others wanted me to be!
Of course, this is still a struggle for me but I am continuing to move forward.
Have you ever sacrificed your passions for peace?
***** This post is part of the blog carnival on “Sacrifice” that is happening over at Peter Pollock’s blog. Go and check out the rest of the posts!
A Few Related Posts You May Find Useful:
Sermon Synopsis 10/14 – God’s peace is available to me
Lessons from New York Part 1 – Finding peace
Are you pursuing a God-ordained passion?
Sermon synopsis 5/17 – The church has left the building Part 2 – Passion
Sermon Synopsis 12/27 – He will be called … Prince of Peace
4 attitudes that destroy our spiritual passion
Is peace possible?
Renewal begins in the mind
Have I ever my passions for peace? Pretty much the first half of my life. But God got a hold of me and showed me he put those passions in me for his glory and to bless me. That was life changing.
Thanks for sharing Kathy!
That ton of bricks you mentioned? Guess where they just landed.
My life has been a wild pendulum. I grew up living for only others. I guess I figured I’d paid my dues, and lived completely for self as a young adult, into my early Christian walk, before the pendulum swung back the other way again. I’m just now realizing how high the cost has become to sacrifice passion for peace.
I’m trying to sort out where to draw the line between dying to self for the sake of the King and His Kingdom (and peace on earth), and what should never be let go; between which hills aren’t worth dying for, and which ones are to be fought for. I’ve been living with the perspective that if He wants me to have something back which I sacrifice, He will be the One to return it to me. Does that still work if He didn’t ask me to lay it down in the first place?
Your last question is an important one Anne because a lot of times we are dying to the wrong things. We die to our God-given passions. We die to our worth as a child of God. We need to be dying to the right things like defensiveness, arrogance and finding our worth and value apart from God.
Thanks for sharing Anne!
Hmmm… very valid point. To be honest, I have never thought of it this way – peace always seemed like a good thing and passions – well… don’t know. The word’s got a bit twisted these days…
Yet, you are right… Far too often we think that we are choosing the right thing (i.e. peace, in this case) by giving up something that we do not need… yet when it’s God who gives us those desires and passions – we miss out on so many blessings and so do other people whom we were supposed to bless while doing what He has called us to do.
Thanks for sharing, Kevin.
Thanks for your input Zee!
It’s amazing what we will sacrifice to gain so little. Good post, Kevin.
Very good point! Thanks Glynn!
I liked your thought, “I was seeking my acceptance, security and significance in what others thought of me and not from God.” Yes, when God does a renewal in our life, we strive to please God and not others. Yes, we do want others to accept us, but as I grow older, there are times when I simply do not care what others think about me, only what God thinks.
Amen Hazel!
Thanks for sharing!
I believe peace will happen when you are working in areas of God given passions and gifts.
AMEN!
I agree with you to a point Dan. I believe personal peace will come this way but relational peace will not always come this way because some people do not like allowing people to live out their God given passions and gifts.
Thanks for adding to the discussion Dan!
That’s true Kevin. But I would rather have personal peace even if I don’t have relational peace. Their will always be people people that don’t want you to work in your gifts and become successful. Thanks for your thoughts.
Dan
I am with you on that one Dan!
This is so good Kevin. I love how God opened up your eyes to who HE says you are.
In the past, I’ve definitely sacrificed my passions for (false) peace. I’ve always been very non-confrontational with a desire never to rock the boat. What I’ve learned is that a peace maker is not the same as a peace keeper. A peace maker goes head first into conflict to resolve it and bring TRUE peace. You can’t be a peace maker without passion.
Awesome thoughts Tony!
Thanks for sharing!
“I began to become the me that God wanted me to be and not the me that others wanted me to be!” YES! That’s SO important! We really do need to learn to say ‘no’ to others in order to be able to fully say ‘yes’ to God. Sometimes it is easier to please others and go along than to be true to yourself. God help us! Thanks for a thought-provoking post. Blessings!
Thanks for sharing Mari-Anna!
I keep telling people “follow the path of peace” but I think I need a different term…the “path of peace” can’t be the path of least resitance, or the path of least change, or the path of strictly common sense…still I believe that’s how God leads me…but I know “peace” doesn’t mean “no conflict”.
That is an important distinction Trevor. We follow the path that will lead to personal peace and peace with God (this definitely does not mean the absence of conflict) . I believe this comes as we become the people that God wants us to become.
Thanks for sharing Trevor!
It’s so easy to do what others expect and try to please them, and fail God. I am guilty of this so often. Thank you for sharing. It’s certainly something to ponder on!
Thanks Loni!
Ouch…That post hurt
I think we all have sacraficed at times to maintain peace. God has recently been sharing with me that true peace is found in sharing the truth of His love with humility and gentleness.
Amen Gerald!
Well! I am not sure.God wanted us to continue with the Passion that we think we owe. Or He wanted to give us Better than we expected. After all Whatever happens,happens for good.
God is definitely good is all that He does!
Thanks for sharing Azhar!