🇬🇧Unknown speaker

I hope you're all enjoying your time as Peace Ambassadors. Let me share a short reflection on peace — forgive me if I refer to my notes. When we hear the word "peace," it's worth remembering that it means different things to different people. Some see peace as the absence of conflict. Others see it as harmony and tranquility. Others see no particular benefit in it, because they've never experienced the destructive effects of conflict.

So peace means different things, depending on where someone is and what they're going through. Today I want to focus on living in harmony with each other, and finding peace within your own heart when you're troubled. The news is dominated by the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and there is unrest among citizens across the globe — it seems constant, in one shape or another. To me, that's a sign that people fail to see the benefits of peace, or the value of living in it.

The importance of peace can't be overstated — it is the foundation for social stability, human rights, and the wellbeing of every individual and community. By fostering a culture of peace, we create an environment where everyone has a chance to prosper, and live a fulfilling life. Matthew 5:9 tells us that "blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." Why, then, do some people claim to want peace, yet never seek it or see its benefits? I question whether they truly have God in their hearts. If we trust the Lord, delight in him, and commit to him, we can find peace in his plan — and be okay, even when life isn't going the way we dream it should.

Have you ever prayed for something while your heart was troubled, and over time found that the prayer was answered? Sometimes you've almost forgotten about the prayer by the time you realize it has been answered. We have to remember that God is always with us. He works around us, and within us, in his time — not ours. We need to be patient, because in the end, we will get the peace we desire.

When it comes to world peace, let us keep praying that those in conflict come to understand the meaning of oneness, and truly find God in their hearts — because through God, all things are possible. As Matthew 6:33 says, if we seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, he will give us everything we need.