Wisdom does not grow overnight. We have to obtain it, although there are different sources of wisdom. One type of wisdom is gained through experience; the other type of wisdom comes from heaven. The apostle James describes wisdom from heaven as “pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” – which is the kind of wisdom peacemakers bring to the table.

God understands everybody and He is the only One who can bring us together. We often use the term “one nation under God” – the Lord’s desire goes beyond that. His vision is “all nations under God”. Jesus was born in Israel, but He did not come exclusively for the Jews; He came for all the nations.

God’s peacemaking abilities are astonishing. He is truly impartial, looks at both sides of the coin and has the best interest of all parties at heart. This cannot be said of human wisdom which I would describe as “street-smart.” Based on experience, humans learn to look out for themselves and recognize an opportunity when it presents itself. A street-smart person may get ahead at the cost of his or her integrity.

As opposed to human wisdom focused on personal advantage, God’s wisdom is all-inclusive. That’s the kind of wisdom we cannot produce, regardless how many years of experience we have under our belt.  

Godly wisdom in a human heart is always the work of the Holy Spirit. His still small voice leads us often contrary to human wisdom. Acts of faith don’t always resonate well with mainstream thinking.

God’s wisdom comes as a gift, and we receive it through prayer. As a result we begin to see the world with different eyes. God’s wisdom revolutionizes our way of thinking and opens us up to other people – and this is how peacemakers are born.