(Read Psalm 34)
Not long ago, I found myself in a heated situation. It wasn’t life or death, but it was tense enough that my first instinct was to react with sharp words. You’ve probably been there too when your pulse quickens, your mind races, and the easiest thing to do is fire back. But in that moment, I sensed God nudging me to slow down. Instead of reacting, I paused, prayed under my breath, and chose a calmer response. The tension didn’t magically disappear, but peace had room to enter.
Psalm 34 was written by David “when he pretended to be insane before Abimelek.” It was a moment of danger and uncertainty, yet David speaks of seeking the Lord, fearing Him, and finding peace. That background adds weight to verse 14—it’s a call to pursue peace even when chaos surrounds us. I would add, “especially when chaos surrounds us.”
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:14
In just one verse, David captures what the Christian life is meant to look like. Turn from evil. This is more than avoiding obvious sin. It means laying aside inward tendencies that quietly eat away at our faith—resentment, pride, selfish ambition, bitterness. Paul echoes this in Romans: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good (Romans 12:9).”
Do good. Righteous living isn’t passive. It takes intention. It means looking for ways to bless, serve, and lift up others, even when it costs us time, comfort, or reputation. Jesus said it plainly: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Seek peace and pursue it. In Hebrew, shalom isn’t just peace that’s absent of conflict. It’s wholeness, completeness, harmony. It’s a peace rooted in a right relationship with God, with others, and within ourselves. We have to chase it and embrace it. Sometimes that means swallowing our pride, extending forgiveness, or humbling ourselves for the sake of reconciliation.
Daniel gives us a striking picture of this. When King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to kill all the wise men because no one could interpret his dream, Daniel didn’t panic. He went home, told his friends, and they prayed (Daniel 2:17–18). Calm, steady, and trusting. Later, when his three friends stood before the fiery furnace, they spoke with the same conviction: “The God we serve is able to deliver us… but even if He does not, we will not serve your gods (Daniel 3:17–18).” Their peace didn’t come from their circumstances—it came from their confidence in God.
Jesus showed us this same pursuit of peace. In Gethsemane, when the soldiers came to arrest Him, Peter swung his sword. But Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place (Matthew 26:52).” Instead of escalating conflict, Jesus chose the way of peace, even while on His way to the cross.
The truth is, pursuing peace takes courage. It’s easier to react than to respond. It’s easier to hold a grudge than to forgive. It’s easier to defend our pride than to humble ourselves. Yet Scripture calls us to something better:
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18
Paul writes, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18).” Notice the realism in his words. Paul doesn’t pretend that peace will always be possible—sometimes others may resist reconciliation, hold on to bitterness, or reject our efforts. But he places responsibility squarely on us: as far as it depends on you. In other words, don’t let peace fail because of your unwillingness. Do your part. Leave the rest to God.
This verse reminds us that peace requires effort and humility. It may mean being the first to apologize, letting go of a right to retaliation, or stepping away from an argument rather than escalating it. Peace isn’t always neat, but it is always worth pursuing. When we take responsibility for our side of the relationship, we reflect the heart of Christ—the One who went to the cross to make peace between God and humanity (Colossians 1:20).
My daughter started this post almost eight years ago. She picked this theme out of the blue—or so I thought. Maybe she needed it, maybe she thought I needed the lesson from this, maybe the Holy Spirit meant it for the both of us, or maybe it was written for someone else reading this. I still fail at this more often than I’d like to admit. But Psalm 34 reminds me that true peace doesn’t just happen—it’s a lifelong relationship with God I must pursue. And when I do, God often takes even the most restless situations and surprises me with His calm.
Life Applications:
- Am I actively turning away from the things I know are displeasing to God?
- What does it look like for me to “do good” in my current relationships, workplace, or community?
- Where in my life is peace lacking—and how can I begin to pursue peace rather than just expect it to appear?