How to Be a Peacemaker Without Being a Doormat - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - December 15, 2025
"Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness" (James 3:18).
Growing up, I tried to remain at peace with everyone around me. Sometimes, this caused me to go along with things that I shouldn't have, yet my goal was to maintain peace. When we examine the Bible and its emphasis on peace, we begin to understand that being a peacemaker does not mean we allow people to use us as a doormat. Although this is common, we should not allow people to exploit our kindness.
Being a peacemaker means that we try to preserve the peace of the Lord. If anyone tries to advocate peace without the Lord, we know their efforts will be futile. Peace comes from the Lord, and it is non-existent without Him (John 14:27). The peace that the Lord gives will never waver or fade away. It will always be present with us, and it surpasses our own understanding (Philippians 4:7).
When we strive to be peacemakers in our own lives, we must remember that peacemakers seek to maintain peace, not at their own expense. As mentioned, many people will try to abuse our efforts. Instead of being kind and considerate, they will use us. God doesn't want this to happen; therefore, we must become more knowledgeable about peacemakers.
As we are trying to be peacemakers, we need to reflect on the Bible. Being peaceful doesn't mean everyone will get along with us, but it does mean that we will try to live at peace with all people (Romans 12:18). We will not start useless arguments or problems (Philippians 2:12-16). Instead, we will strive to achieve peace and maintain it.
Just because we think we might have obtained peace doesn't mean it will last forever. This is why we must try to preserve the peace and to continue to cultivate it. Each day will be a challenge, yet we are not alone in our journey. God will help us as we strive to live in peace with others. Peacemakers bring glory to God because they follow His example.
God is peaceful, loving, and compassionate; however, He is also righteous and holy. God will not tolerate His children being stepped on because they have chosen the way of peace. In the same way, He does not want us to tolerate mistreatment either. If we are living in peace with others and someone is mean to us or abuses our kindness, we don't have to stay in the situation.
We can remove ourselves from this situation and start surrounding ourselves with other peaceful individuals. Unfortunately, those who choose not to be peacemakers can rub off on those who are peacemakers. In this way, many people can be led astray from a life of peace due to the negative influence of others.
It is common for good to be influenced by evil. Therefore, be aware of your limits and refrain from exceeding them. If we are surrounding ourselves with people who are abusive of our kindness, treating us as doormats, or trying to influence us negatively, we need to walk away. Even if we think we can turn these individuals away from their wicked ways, we cannot.
Only God can bring about this change in a person, and the person must be willing to change themselves. This can be a long journey for many people, but one thing we can do is pray for them. We can pray for them to come to know the Lord, to follow the way of peace, and to become peacemakers in their own lives. While this might not sound like much, our prayers can move mountains (Matthew 17:20).
The half-brother of the Lord tells us, "Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness" (James 3:18). As James says in this passage, peacemakers who sow in peace will reap a harvest of righteousness. Sowing in peace means doing everything with a peaceful heart. Never should we try to "get even." Choosing to live at peace with others will extend the Lord's love.
By being peacemakers who sow in peace, we will reap a harvest of righteousness. Being a peacemaker means we avoid useless arguments, we are kind to everyone, and we love as Jesus does. Jesus is the exact embodiment of a peacemaker, and we would do well to follow His example. In fact, He says that peacemakers are children of God (Matthew 5:9). Even though some days will be more complex than others, the Lord will help us become peacemakers.
"Dear Jesus, I want to become a peacemaker who sows in peace, but I'm not sure where to start. Please help me to follow You in everything I do and to bring You glory. Whenever I'm tempted not to be peaceful, I bring my heart back to You. I praise You, and I thank You. Amen."
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Related Resource: Praying Through Psalm 51: Restoring the Joy of Salvation
Can a heart stained by the worst kinds of betrayal ever truly be restored?? When the world demands justice, does God offer a different way back? In this devotional on Psalm 51, we step into the wreckage of King David’s greatest failure—the affair with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. We move beyond a simple apology to uncover the specific Hebrew anatomy of David's confession: Pesha (rebellion), Avon (twistedness), and Hata'ah (missing the mark). We explore the shocking reality that under Mosaic Law, David should have faced the death penalty, yet he boldly asks God to "create a way" where the law offered none. If you’ve ever felt like your mistakes have disqualified you from God’s presence, or that you are not worthy due to your past mistakes, this episode offers a roadmap from guilt to gladness. Come ready to run toward the Father who doesn't just want your perfection, but your broken and contrite heart. If this episode helped you connect with God, be sure to follow Praying Christian Women on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
