Peacemaking 101Muestra

PEACE SOOTHING

I am sure that after yesterday's reading, we are all inspired to love our enemies. Well, in theory at least! But if your lives are the same as mine, your enemies are not that easy to love.

David would be able to relate. His enemy, King Saul was an absolute pain in the neck! We only know that a tormenting spirit troubled Saul after the Spirit of the Lord has left him, but that could not have been pretty. I am imagining King Saul snapping and yelling at everybody as the tormenting spirit pestered him. I don't think he was willing to listen to reason or look for compromises. But David found a way to keep the peace. "And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away" (1 Samuel 16:23, NLT).

Sometimes there is nothing else to be done but to soothe a tormented soul. We are called to also be peacemakers to those who are not at peace with themselves. Instead of getting caught up in someone else's anger, why not bring peace to the situation?

David's soothing actions drove the tormenting spirit away from King Saul. Do you believe your actions may have the same effect? I challenge you to try it the next time you are confronted by your enemy's rage.

"A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare" (Proverbs 15:1, NLT).