One reason people act this way is because their self-worth is based on a public image of excellence, meaning they can only feel good about themselves by projecting a (false) sense of perfection. Behind the veneer of their public confidence lies a deep insecurity about never being good enough. For them, owning up to their mistakes is too costly, because saying “I was wrong” undermines the foundation of their self-worth.

The peace God offers us in Christ is more than just the absence of conflict. A better way of thinking about it is the presence of God’s goodness, even in the midst of difficult seasons of life. Biblical peace is about living under God’s blessings and experiencing life to the full (John 10:10), just as God intended before sin corrupted the world.

Over the next few weeks, I want to encourage you to be on the lookout for opportunities to bless other people in the name of Jesus. This will likely take some creativity and intentionality, so start each day praying for God to open the right doors for you to be a blessing. And remember, it doesn’t have to be something big. Mother Teresa once said “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”