Peace and safety are not the same.
I’m talking about the kind of peace that can be experienced no matter how unsafe or stressful the situation you might be encountering.
Jesus said He didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword (Matt. 10:34ff). He wasn’t talking about religious wars as some have interpreted this verse. He was referring to the kind of conflict that occurs between people when one chooses to follow Jesus and others don’t like it.
Jesus also said blessed are those who are persecuted for following Him (Matt. 5:10). This at times can mean physical harm where the believer can still experience peace despite being put in an unsafe situation.
If you want a healthy Jesus faith, don’t seek safety and comfort. Instead, seek peace with God through what Jesus did on the cross. If we choose to listen to and follow Jesus, not Christianity or traditions, others may not like it and become the very “haters” they claim Christians to be.
Safety and comfort may feel good in the short term, but never over time. Compromises here and there ultimately bring peace robbing guilt. The internal peace, the kind that says, “It is well with my soul” only comes from making the hard choices that can land you in unsafe places.
Loving Jesus isn’t always easy, but it sure is the best way to live.