Peace vs. Piece: Finding Wholeness in a Fractured World

By Valerie E. Patton

As we enter the holiday season, the word peace is everywhere — on cards, storefronts, and church marquees. Yet for many of us in St. Louis, peace feels like something we talk about more than we experience. Between community violence, rising costs, and the strain of daily life, too many of us are living in pieces.

Pieces of joy overshadowed by worry.

Pieces of hope buried under headlines.

Pieces of faith stretched thin by fatigue.

But peace isn’t just a feeling—it’s a spiritual position. It’s not the absence of conflict; it’s the presence of Christ in the middle of it. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27). The peace He offers doesn’t come from circumstances improving; it comes from hearts being aligned with Him.

So how do we find — and keep — peace in a world that keeps breaking?

1. Pause before reacting.

Whether it’s traffic on 270, tension at work, or conversations around the dinner table, take a breath before responding. Invite God into the moment. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15). Peace starts with a pause — the space where grace can step in.

2. Protect your spirit.

Be careful what you allow to shape your mood. News, social media, and constant comparison can divide your peace into pieces. Philippians 4:8 urges, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure… think about such things.” Choose what builds, not what breaks.

3. Practice peace daily.

Peace is like a muscle — it grows when exercised. Begin each morning in gratitude, even for small things. Speak kindly when it’s hardest. Offer prayer where others offer complaints. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”

4. Pursue reconciliation.

Sometimes the missing piece of peace is a broken relationship. In a city where division can run deep — by neighborhood, race, or class — we can each choose to be bridge builders. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Forgiveness may not change the past, but it heals the heart.

This holiday season, may we trade our pieces for His peace. Not the kind wrapped in ribbons or powered by perfection, but the deep, steady peace that holds us — and our city — together.

Peace isn’t something we wait for.

It’s something we walk in.