Eating Peace Pie

I read the scripture again and sighed.

I knew the Lord was speaking to me.

God’s voice wasn’t loud, but my heart was pricked. The scripture was clear, almost as if it had been highlighted on the page. I had read this verse countless times before, but on this particular day it spoke deeply to my heart.

“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”Romans 12:18

As I sat there reflecting on those words, my mind drifted back to something that had happened a few months earlier.

I had experienced a disagreement with someone who was not only a friend, but someone

who had also been like a mentor to me—a fairy godmother of sorts. She had been a supporter, a generous giver, and someone who rooted me on through my nonprofit work. Over the years she had been incredibly helpful and encouraging.

But during the final month of my store’s operation, we had a disagreement. At the time I was overwhelmed and under tremendous stress, trying to navigate the difficult process of closing the store before the lease ended. Our last phone call ended with terse, cryptic words.

It didn’t end well.

In the moment I simply pushed forward. There was too much to do and too many responsibilities on my shoulders. I soldiered on through the stress and emotions of closing the store.

But time has a way of giving us space to reflect.

And now, as I reread Romans 12:18, God’s words began to penetrate my heart.

“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

Have you ever had a disagreement in a relationship where things didn’t end peacefully?

Maybe it was in a marriage, a friendship, or within your family. Perhaps something was said, feelings were hurt, and instead of working through it, both people simply kept moving forward.

Maybe there was a quiet shrug of the shoulders and a thought like,

“I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Or maybe even,

“Well, they should be the one to call me.”

As that scripture rolled around in my mind and heart, I began to realize something important.

As a Christian, I have a responsibility to do everything I can to live peaceably with others.

And if I was being honest with myself, there was not peace between me and this friend. It was almost as if we had simply begun avoiding each other.

So I began to pray.

And as I prayed, my flesh began to react.

Peace pie is delicious. It favors humble pie. We just have to eat it.

“Well, Kacie… you know you were right in your decision that led to the disagreement. Not everyone will be pleased with decisions you make. You can’t make everyone happy.”

Now that reasoning may have been true… or maybe not. But what I sensed the Lord showing me was that the real issue wasn’t about who was right or wrong.

The question was this:

Have you done everything in your power to make peace?

That was the action God wanted from me.

Would I be willing to humble myself and consume a vast quantity of peace pie? Would I be willing to reach out to my friend, ask for forgiveness, and have a conversation marked by humility and reconciliation?

God wasn’t asking me to determine who was right.

He was asking if someone would be willing to extend the olive branch.

Would there be peace?

So I told the Lord I would be willing.

My friendship with this person—and even if the friendship did not continue, simply having peace—was more important to me than proving who was right.

I asked God to give me the words to say when I called her. I also prayed that her heart would be softened toward me.

I’m happy to say she received me well.

I was able to apologize for the ways my decisions had hurt her. She shared that her feelings had indeed been hurt, but she also told me she loved me. Our conversation ended on a good note.

And something beautiful happened in that moment.

There was peace.

I felt incredibly grateful that God loves me enough to speak to me through His Word—and that He continues to shape my heart.

I often pray that God will keep my heart soft and tender toward Him. If there are areas where I need to grow, repent, or come up higher in Him, I want to be willing.

Sometimes I share stories about the ways I get things wrong—too much pride here, too much excess there. But this was a moment where God pricked my heart and I responded to His prompting and I ate from the pie of peace.

Why does God care so much about peace in our relationships?

Psalm 133 reminds us that there is a blessing when God’s people dwell together in unity. When believers work together in harmony, it becomes a powerful force against the enemy.

Over the past few years, this friend and I had combined our strengths to accomplish meaningful things. Unity allowed God to work through us in powerful ways.

I’m not entirely sure what the future holds for our relationship, but I do know that peace has removed the barriers of strife, unforgiveness, and hurt feelings. Now God’s power can continue to flow.

When there is unresolved conflict, it can make it much harder for God to work in our lives and through us.

I also think it’s important to notice something in Romans 12:18.

The verse says:

“If it be possible…”

That means sometimes peace depends on more than just us.

There is another relationship in my life where I have reached out for peace. I have apologized in person. I have sent encouraging messages and let this person know I care about them.

But the responses have been limited.

In that situation, I have had to give the relationship to the Lord.

We cannot control other people’s hearts or responses. Sometimes God has to do the work of softening a person’s heart.

In the meantime, I continue to pray for them, love them, and wish them well from a distance. I choose not to live in rejection, but instead to pour into the friendships and community where I am loved and embraced.

Navigating relationships and community can be difficult.

But I believe that as long as I stay humble, maintain a heart that can be corrected by God, and remain willing to admit when I am wrong and ask for forgiveness, the Lord is pleased.

And ultimately, that is the relationship that matters most.

Hi, my name is Kacie Starr Long. I am an author, and speaker and I love to use my voice to point people to Jesus. When I'm not writing, I'm either hanging out with my husband or sewing. God delivered me from food addiction and I have a sewing ministry, called the Sew Hope . I am the proud wife of Alfred T. Long, Sr and together we lead a non-profit that provides services for those battling substance abuse and those impacted by incarceration. Connect with me at www.InspiredOverflow.com and via my YouTube page for Christian teachings and encouragement.

PS Friends: I've recently published a NEW book called War On the Floor. This book is for those with a loved one who is deep in addiction. It's a collection of prayers to help you remain focused and strengthened as you believe God for breakthrough. There is truly power in prayer! Order your copy today.