The Power of Words: Embracing the Role of the Peacemaker

Lesallan | June 25, 2025

The Power of Words: Embracing the Role of the Peacemaker

Every day, we choose whether our words will build up or tear down. As the writer of Proverbs reminds us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (New International Version, 2011, Proverbs 18:21). To be a peacemaker, then, is not merely to avoid conflict but to wield our words with intentionality—speaking truth that guides another toward flourishing, even when that truth disturbs their present equilibrium. This lifelong commitment encompasses mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health, prompting us to ask: How can our speech bring life amid brokenness?

Psychologists have long documented the healing potential of positive, candid communication. Martin Seligman’s work on well-being demonstrates that reframing challenges as growth opportunities enhances resilience and life satisfaction (Seligman, 2011). When we offer constructive feedback, we risk temporary discomfort, but we also plant seeds of enduring change. In this way, peacemaking words become instruments of transformation, empowering individuals to recalibrate unhealthy patterns and embrace hope.

Emotional intelligence plays a pivotal role in guiding not only what we say but also how we say it. Daniel Goleman defines emotional intelligence as the capacity to recognize and manage both our own and others’ emotions, a skill that involves empathic communication (Goleman, 1995). By tuning into the unspoken cues of fear, shame, or hope, a peacemaker tailors their words that validate feelings and encourage growth. Such attuned speech dissolves walls of misunderstanding and cultivates relational safety, an essential foundation for real peace.

Biblical teaching complements modern science by emphasizing the importance of speaking the truth in love. Paul urges believers to “grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” by speaking truth rather than hollow pleasantries (New International Version, 2011, Ephesians 4:15). This balance of honesty and compassion guides peacemakers to confront injustice and sin without resorting to condemnation. In practice, this involves active listening, asking clarifying questions, and identifying what is harmful, while holding onto hope for restoration.

Becoming a peacemaker through our words is neither passive nor purely diplomatic. It is the courageous choice to forgo the safety of silence or the appeasement of shallow peace in favor of life-giving truth. By integrating ancient wisdom with insights from positive psychology and emotional intelligence, we can ensure that our speech not only smooths over conflict but also catalyzes holistic health—mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual—for those we seek to serve.

Blessings,

Lesallan

References:

Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence. Bantam Books.

Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Free Press.