Friday, August 21, 2026

Bible in a Year Reading Plan: Ecclesiastes 7-8 | 1 Corinthians 14

I’m going to be honest: the last ten years have brought a lot of turbulence. I’ve witnessed lies brought into a courtroom, seen the sacrifices and physical toll that can come with years of military service, and watched someone cause serious damage within a family tree. Those are only a few examples, and they feel like more than enough.

If I could, I’d forget it all, but forgetting would only be pretending everything was okay. A younger version of me - the one who wasn’t a husband and father - might have responded differently when the same conflict came my way. I did that a few times, and I remember the anguish that followed. 

I didn’t experience peace until I learned to understand, forgive, and release the hurt. So as turbulent as the past decade has been, it has also been my best season of spiritual growth. That’s because a long time ago, I chose peace over hurt, revenge, and the things I can’t control.

Romans 12:17-18

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Some want to fight back and make others feel the pain they’ve caused. But matching someone’s worst actions doesn’t stop them from inflicting more chaos on you or others. If anything, it keeps their focus on what is evil. It keeps their heart closed, and in turn, you turn into the thing that hurt you. 

Jesus offers the peace and redemption we all need. 

Choosing peace isn’t accepting what happened. It’s understanding that the hurt you’ve endured doesn’t have to become your identity. It’s realizing that the offender may not have built a relationship with Jesus yet, and you were there once, too. Maybe our darkness doesn’t look the same, but none of us gets through life without needing grace. 

You can acknowledge, confront, and establish boundaries around the hurt. You can even walk away from the person who caused it and love them from a distance. Peace is your choice. 

You don’t have to become the hurt.

Questions: 

Can you recall a time when you chose to match someone’s anger and transgressions? What did that do to your spirit and mind? What are some ways you can live in peace with others, with or without them in your life?

Next Steps: 

Identify people in your life who agitate your peace because you can’t surrender the things you won’t acknowledge. Practice a method of stop, pray, evaluate, and respond when dealing with hurt. Start creating separation between peace and permission. Peace doesn’t mean pretending, protecting (reputation), allowing, or avoiding.

21 Days of Prayer | Today’s Focus: For the Economy and Businesses 

Prayer:  

Heavenly Father, thank you for each business that makes up the economy of our community and region. You know the details of each one, and we pray they are firmly established in you. May their work and practices reflect your generous heart. We ask you to show them great favor. Give each business leader your wisdom as they navigate the challenges and opportunities placed before them. May whatever they put their hand to have a legacy of eternal impact for your glory and the good of our community. In Jesus' name, amen. 

Series Theme Verse:

John 13:35

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” 

Written by Jaron Camp, a regular contributor to the Daily Devotional.