The Christian Home
Peace In Our Home
From A Woman's Perspective

In the description of the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, it says that she, “looks well into the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Sometimes, mothers and wives work so hard to emulate this quality that our industriousness interferes with a peaceful home. Are we enjoying peace in our homes as part of our daily living? Our families should be living in peace and we should be setting the example. The apostle Paul tells us to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Be Occupied, But Not Over-Occupied

There is no room for rushing around and causing stress in your life. Peaceful living will escape the ones who are always worn out from too much business. We should be busy keeping the home (Titus 2:5) and doing the Lord's work (2 Thess 3:13), but if you wear yourself out, the peace in the family will suffer and your influence on the family will be lacking. We need to learn to be fruitful, not just busy.

Being over-occupied takes away from our families and the Lord. It causes stress that affects our relationships with one another. Martha is an example of being over-occupied. When Jesus had come to visit her and Mary, she was busy with her domestic chores while Mary sat and listened to Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). Martha was so busy that it affected her disposition with Jesus and her sister and she complained, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” Her answer from Jesus was, “Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful.” Because Martha was so busy, she failed to see what was really important that day.

What we say to our families and how we say it is very important. Faultfinding and complaining is not conducive to having peace in the home. It can be very destructive, as negative comments will hurt and tear

down those who are the most important to us, our husband and children. We should remember that all those things that always seem to occupy so much of our time are not nearly as important as the peaceful time we can spend with our families.

Be Occupied, But Not Pre-Occupied

Being at peace however, does not mean we will never face things going wrong. At times we all will have those rough moments when we feel that nothing is going the way we would like. The trials and difficulties of daily life can cause us to become pre-occupied with those things instead of occupied with the things that really matter. Paul said in Phil 4:8-9 to allow our minds to be occupied by good things. In so doing, “...the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7).

“Anxiety in a man's heart will weigh it down, but a good word makes it glad” (Proverbs 12:25). Let's be careful in our actions and speech, doing and saying things that are helpful and not hurtful. We can be anxious, worried and fretful over things that really don’t matter or we can settle down and have peace.

Our peace comes from our relationship with the Lord. The Lord told the apostles, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Jesus gives us inward peace. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). This peace that Jesus gives is not the outward peace of things going on around us, but inward peace that troubles cannot destroy. When we believe in God and do His will, we can have peace in our hearts. We will not live in a constant state of turmoil.

Irene Shephard
Vacaville, Ca.