Conflict resolution

Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. —Mark 4:38-39

Being both silent and still are two of the best skills a peacemaker has because silence and stillness lead to a great calm. Over time and with practice, peacemakers have learned peace is not the absence of upset. Rather, it’s the control over it.

I know a great peacemaker. She demonstrated silence, stillness and a great calm for decades. When she was at the helm of a ship (that is a small business), she had a presence of peace during stressful situations. Time and time again, she kept her calm through upsets, heated disputes and deep messes that could not be easily cleaned.

Whether we are at the helm or the back of the boat with our head on a cushion, when it comes to peacekeeping, we’ve heard it’s best to respond not react. This is true of the peacemaker I am speaking of here. She barely responded. She wasn’t despondent or remotely removed. In fact, she did have a reaction to the situation. However, she gently acknowledged all sides of the situation and shared a sense of calm when no one, including herself, felt calm.

Jesus, our greatest peacemaker, has what we all need, and that’s the ability to calm us in our storms. When He says, “Silence! Be still!” He’s talking to us, not the high, rough water.

PRAYER: Remind us again and again, dear Jesus, that You have the presence and power to calm and even silence us when necessary. Amen.