I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but the United States of America has quickly become the Divided States of America.

The last few election cycles have deepened that divide, and the gap widens as people scramble to the safety of echo chambers and friendly voices.

At times, it can feel as if we’re playing a giant game of Tug of War, and the result will be that no one wins while everyone gets worn out. And tired people don’t, won’t, or can’t invest the emotional energy necessary to repair the relational fractures in their lives.

Enter the courageous ones, or as Jesus called them, the peacemakers.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭9, emphasis mine)

It may seem odd to think of peacemakers as courageous, but that’s only because we’ve always considered peace to be something passive.

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I love the multi-faceted gem that is God’s word, and how it never ceases to offer new insights into stories that have been read again and again. This week, I was reminded of a verse in 1 Samuel 14 that spoke deeply to me 20 years ago as I prepared to leave a full-time (paid) staff position at a church to step into a new season as a full-time (but unpaid) traveling preacher. I’m including what I wrote then in its entirety to add the context for the new light the Holy Spirit is shining on it for me now.

Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.” (1 Samuel 14:6, emphasis mine)

Every so often I run across words and phrases in the Bible that jump out at me and scream, “HEY! LOOK AT ME!” This verse has one. But before we get to it, let me ask you a question: do you like to take risks? In fairness, some of us are a lot more willing to take risks than others. For some of you, ordering a different dish off the menu at your favorite restaurant is about as risky as you care to be. For others, you’re ready to jump out of the airplane without checking to see if your chute is even packed correctly.

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I was meeting with a young man yesterday, and he told me about a survey that revealed 60% of young ladies who are in a relationship already have a backup boyfriend in mind.

That’s about the most compelling evidence for how much we fear being alone. When 6 out of 10 people in a relationship are already making plans for what to do after that relationship, we may have a problem.

It’s not that we should like being alone — after all, God made us for relationships and community. In fact, the Bible emphasizes that family is the God-ordained remedy for the lonely (see it for yourself in Psalm 68:6), so we never have to think God wants us to feel lonely.

But another verse does reveal that we don’t have to be afraid of lonely places or lonely seasons.

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