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“Lord, make me a channel of thy peace”—Prayer of St. Francis.

We just want peace! We think we have it, and then it’s gone. Joy can quickly turn to agitation or anxiety. That’s life: a series of ups and downs. It can be challenging, difficult, and sorrowful. We live in constant battle, whether we like it or not. Amidst the war is the struggle for peace—in our hearts, families, communities, and nations. 

Peace is the primordial struggle within the spiritual life. We all desire to obtain it (even if we don’t have faith). I’m learning about peace day-by-day. I may have read about it, lived it, or discussed it with a friend. I share below some insights. They are in no particular order, and they aren’t exhaustive. See it as a starting point for your reflections. I hope it will encourage you. 

1. We should want things in a way that are peaceful, patient, caring, detached, and abandoned to God. The way in which we want them matters as much as the thing itself (Searching for and Maintaining Peace, page 53). If I want things in a virtuous way, I will then have peace.

2. On the aspect of abandonment, peace is directly correlated with the degree of our surrender to the Lord. The greater our abandonment, the greater our peace. We can pray for this grace. “Our concern, then, should be to know the will of God. We should enter onto the path that God wills for us, not by ‘forcing the door’, but when God wills and as God wills.” – St. Gianna Beretta Molla

3. “Let go or be dragged”—sayings from a spiritual mentor. Dwelling on the things of the past weigh us down. Holding onto things also drains our energy and strength. It does us no good. We can let go, bless, and release all that was, is, and will be. Then we can be at peace.

4. “Forward ever; backward never”—sayings from a previous colleague. The journey of peace is a journey forward. We can learn and grow from our mistakes and failings, but we must use that ammunition to propel us ahead.

5. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (John 14:27). The world gives things hurriedly, impartially, and leaves us restless and wanting. Contrastingly, Jesus gives things patiently, completely, and leaves us satisfied and fulfilled. If we want peace, we must go to Jesus. We can only find true peace in Him.

6. Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). We can pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s gifts and fruits in our lives! God wants to give us these good things. “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you” (Luke 11:9).

7. In especially dark moments, we can grasp a crucifix and repeat over and over the name of Jesus. His name has power and can cast out anxiety, despair, restlessness, and temptation. The power of His Cross and His Resurrection have set us free.

The ultimate battle was won. Death has been conquered. This is why God desires that we remain at peace. Shall we really be anxious and afraid? Yet our nature continues to tremble and revolt. It is only by God’s grace that we can live a more tranquil and peaceful life. Again, let us lay down all of our concerns and worries to Him. “My past, O Lord, to Your mercy; my present, to Your love; my future to Your providence”—St.Padre Pio.