Someone said, “To hold your peace, keep one’s peace.” My six-month-old sibling kittens didn’t understand that. When they played, they went all out tooth and nail, biting, clawing, growling, and chasing each other around. Sometimes I had to separate them because their play was getting too rough, and I didn’t want them to be so aggressive. Today 16 years later the gray one I still have gets a little feisty at times.
The dictionary says that if you hold or keep your peace, you do not speak, even though there is something you want or ought to say. That does sound like peace, to be sure, but how many of us are predetermined to hold their peace? Most of us like to be free to say what we think even if it does not end in peace. I must continually guard my tongue and my thoughts from where the words come. Sometimes I engage the tongue before the brain which is reverse of what I should do. Hey, I’m not perfect!
During the times that I have held my peace and allowed the Lord to do His work with the other person, the situation ended much differently—and better—than if I had plunged ahead and spewed out words in frustration or anger. Which would you rather have—a happy ending or a worse situation than you started with???
Peace involves your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. They work together. Mental is what you’re thinking about. Physical is how your body is acting or reacting. Emotional is what you’re feeling in your heart. Spiritual is about the connection you have (or don’t have) with God. Let’s do a little experiment.
What are you thinking about right now? Now be aware of your body. Is in relaxed or tense? Is there pain anywhere in your body such as a headache or tight muscle? Keep that in mind while you think about your emotions. Do you feel happy? Content? Unsettled? Upset? Last but not least, how does your faith or spiritual life interact with your mind, emotions, and body?
When steps are not taken to protect your peace, there is a disconnect. When I find myself becoming tense or irritable, I have to stop and consider what else is going on in my life. Usually I find the culprit is a thought or emotion…something that upset me…and something which I have not taken time to process and pray about it. Most of the time when I take time to look at the bigger picture, I can resolve it and feel the peace returning…peace that never actually left, but had just gotten buried under stressors, thoughts, and emotions.
“The Lord will fight for you,
and you shall hold your peace
and remain at rest.”
Exodus 14:14 AMPC
Have you ever gone for a massage? I have had therapists who did not talk but just massaged the body. I’ve also had therapists who talked the whole time. The quiet ones are my favorite because I can really relax the whole body and mind instead of having to think and maybe get uptight about something in the conversation. That’s kind of what I picture as holding your peace. No argument, no discussion, no disagreement, just total rest in the arms of the Savior as I hand over to Him the things on my mind, in my emotions, and body.
There are some benefits of peace. Reduced stress levels can help our whole body. Becoming more compassionate endears us to others and shows God’s love. Our response to negativity is different. When I’m at peace, I don’t want to be around someone who is always looking on the dark side of things because they could easily drag me down if I let it. Improved sleep quality is a big one! Who can’t use better sleep, whether it’s uninterrupted, longer, falling asleep quicker, or just restful? Managing your emotions efficiently helps deal with things that arise in life in a better way and helps to stay on top of things instead of allowing yourself to be dragged down by others. Contentment is one I struggle with. When I’m alone, I want to be with someone; when I’m in a crowd, I want to go home alone. Contentment arises in many ways. For you it might be possessions—what you have or don’t have. Self-restraint is greatly affected by whether you have peace in your heart.
The next time you don’t feel that peace, go back to my experiment and see if you can find out why. Ask God to show you what’s interfering with your peace. Peace is a healthy benefit for every part of your being. Holding it in place is the best way to keep from losing that peace.