Paul writes:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…”
The word rule carries the idea of acting as an umpire— deciding what is allowed to direct and influence us.
Every day, something seeks that role.
Fear.
Anger.
Resentment.
Pride.
Anxiety.
Bitterness.
Or peace.
Paul invites us to allow the peace of Christ to take its rightful place.
This peace is not the denial of reality.
It is not pretending that painful things never happened.
It is not avoiding difficult emotions.
The peace of Christ exists in the midst of reality.
It steadies us when old wounds resurface.
It reminds us that God remains faithful.
It redirects our attention from what we cannot control to the One who holds all things together.
Choosing peace over bitterness does not happen automatically.
Bitterness often feels familiar.
It convinces us that staying angry keeps us protected.