Biblical peace, often referred to by the Hebrew word "shalom," transcends the mere absence of conflict or war. It encompasses a profound sense of well-being, wholeness, and harmony that permeates every aspect of life. Peace is a gift from God, and it’s integral to our connection to God. It is not just an external state but an internal reality that reflects a restored relationship with God, others, and creation.
While peace, shalom, wholeness all surpass earthly concerns, they all speak to a way of living beyond what the world offers. Peace is also a way through earthly concerns. Let’s face it, life invades. There are things that need to get done. There are goals I want to accomplish. Certainly, I’m not unique in this way. We all have aspirations, AND we all have bills to pay and needs to which we have to tend. Challenges like stress, conflict, and uncertainty are ever-present.
When I choose to live into moments of uncertainty, or I put conflict front and center, those are the moments when the “water is troubled.” What it’s taken me time to realize is, I’m not the only one in the water. That can be a hard place to live—for me and for those around me. I’m not sure what ability I have to make people happy, but I am certain I have the capacity to make people unhappy. When I choose to focus on the precariousness of daily life, when I let commonplace tension rule the day, that’s when the water goes from glassy smooth to white-capped waves in a hurry. That posture has an inward effect on me and, more importantly, it has an outward effect on those I’m around. Placing an emphasis on the tensity of daily life is, in fact, choosing to let my daily concerns fracture relationships—my vertical relationship with God and the horizontal relationships with those I’m around.
So, yes, my ability to make someone happy is really limited. But my ability to create space, a peaceful space in which someone might find happiness, is a gift I have. It’s a gift God gave each of us. That is how the waters of shalom can ripple over each of us, daily and eternally.
Good and Gracious God, thank You for the gift of Peace, and thank You for asking each of us to work with You to restore that gift in Your creation.
