By Wendy Choy-Chan

When I read the AAWOL sharing this year on the Spirit-led life, nearly all of them were set in the context of community, speaking of the Spirit bearing fruit to bless different “one-another” relationships. 

With this week’s theme on peace, I first looked at myself and the peace within me — in what area do I not have peace within? And why? I realized that the lack of peace within has to do with a lack of peace in certain “one-another” relationships — a misunderstanding between me and a friend, a mistreatment (from my point of view) from someone, a disagreement with a co-worker, etc.. Besides the “one-another” community on earth, peace can also be lacking in the “one-another” community between me and the Triune God. Well, the Spirit is the Spirit of peace, Christ Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and God the Father is the source of all goodness, so the lack of peace is really from my end — wrestling with God, doubting God, resisting God. As such, the lack of peace within myself is in fact a reflection of the Spirit working in my heart, a battle between my old self and God, and peace is achieved when I submit before God and the Spirit transforms my heart, building up a new self in me to be Christ-like.

Recently, I felt I was being mistreated by a group of people in a certain situation. I wanted justice, but I struggled with the Why? and How? Is it because of “me” that I seek to vindicate myself, and am I using “my way” to achieve that? The Spirit prompted me not to consider myself, but be willing to suffer for God’s sake. Have I experienced God’s presence to see that he is with me in this situation? Have I felt God’s love to know that He understands the pain in my heart? Do I trust that God is working in his will and in his time, not just for the good of me but also the group? A layer of my old self got peeled off, in exchange for a new layer built upon love, hope, and faith — giving me peace with God, peace within, and peace with the group. 

How do you feel about your “one-another” relationships? Are you experiencing love, faith, and hope from God above? Do you desire peace from the Spirit of peace, Christ Jesus the Prince of Peace and Father God the fountain of all goodness, such that you can live a Spirit-led life of peace with one another?

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Wendy became a Christian while attending Queen’s University in Canada. She graduated from Fuller Seminary in 2016 with an MA in Theology, and from Multnomah Biblical Seminary in 2023 with a DMin in Heart-based Spirituality and Christian Formation. Wendy lives in Seattle with her husband and two daughters, and serves as a minister at Evangelical Chinese Church of Seattle.