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Have you ever thought about it? What is the difference between peace and complacency? What about comfort vs. comfortable?

We all want peace, don’t we? But it got me thinking about how easily complacency can disguise itself as peace.

There’s something I used to pray about continually. Something important. I don’t worry about it and I feel at peace about it, but then it struck me. Although I’ve surrendered it to God, I’ve also stopped praying about it. Perhaps rather than having true peace, I’ve become complacent.

Maybe I’ve become satisfied with things as they are and not as they could be.

How many times have we heard someone say, “I’m good.” And how many times have we said it, too? And we’ve all heard the phrase, “It’s all good.”

So is it? Or have we excepted things as they are, and that’s it?

Good is good. God is good. I’m not dissing good. As long as it doesn’t mean we’re settling.

That we’ve quit doing what we’ve been called to do.

As long as hat we’ve quit praying for that thing, or that person, or that people.

That we’ve just plain given it up. Retired from the vibrant life we’ve been created for to settle for just existing.

So What is the Difference Between Peace and Complacency?

Here’s the definition of complacency straight from Merriam-Webster:

Complacency – a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better : a complacent feeling or condition

Now here’s the definition of peace also from Merriam-Webster:

Peace – freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions: harmony in personal relations

Side by side, which would you choose?

Check this out:

You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me;
you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say!
In little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble;
the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come.

Isaiah 32:9-10 (NIV)

Now this:

And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.

Isaiah 32:17 (NASB)

When we become complacent, we’re probably good when things are good. But what happens when the trials come? If we stray from our firm foundation, we’ll crumble like a cookie.

Here are a few dangers of complacency:

• It stunts our spiritual growth.
• It blurs the lines between comfortable and comfort.
• It causes us to settle for less than God’s best.
• It keeps us stuck when we need to move forward.
• It makes us lukewarm, neither hot nor cold.
• It tempts us to withdraw-to become isolated.
• It will distance us from God.

Are we experiencing the comfort of true peace or settling for the comfortable of complacency?

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.   John 14:27 NASB

I didn’t see the words PEACE or FREEDOM in the definition of complacency, did you? Of course, Jesus’ peace is supernatural. You won’t find that definition in Merriam-Webster. That’s why God says it’s a peace that surpasses all understanding. We can have it even when it doesn’t make sense.

• Stay in prayer. Without ceasing. Which means don’t give up.
• Stay close to the sisterhood-Isolation is a dangerous place. Don’t go there.
• Stay alert because the enemy loves when we’re distracted.

The world needs to know that true peace is found in Jesus.

Is there something you’ve been praying about for a very long time?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever become complacent?

Blessings,