Jehovah Shalom - God is Peace !
I have learnt that real peace is the peace that God gives. It is not the peace that the world offers through various ways, including assurances and insurances based on materials or other tangible assets. It took me a long time to fully understand what God-given peace really means. Even so, now and then I still have to overcome wrongful thoughts about peace as I travel my earthly journey.
The first time that God was called Jehovah Shalom was when Gideon encountered God. He thought that he would die as he had a face-to-face meeting with Him. God proclaimed peace upon Gideon and assured him that he would not die but peace would be upon him (Judges 6:22-24). In context, Gideon was directed by God to lead the Israelites to overcome the Midianites who were oppressing them. It was a mighty task and Gideon needed the assurance from God that he was indeed the person to be able to lead the revolt against the enemy.
God gave Gideon not just a sign but the peace in his heart to know that God was going to be leading him as he obeyed God's leading. It was a peace that transcended all understanding - Gideon originally reasoned against it by saying that he was the least in his family and weakest in the clan. But God gave Gideon the peace that settled his heart! That peace came only from knowing deeply that God was for him and with him at all times and under all circumstance.
I am reminded of the troubled hearts of the disciples which contrasted with the peace that Jesus displayed during the storm as they were crossing Lake Galilee (Matt 8:24-26). Jesus was all human like his disciples, but He knew that God was in control of every element, and the storm did not trouble Him; He was sound asleep when the storm was raging (now that is real peace that has settled into the heart!).
In the same way, I have learnt that we all need the peace that settles in our heart, and NOT in our head. For until we are able to come to know that by our self, we are incapable but yet have an Almighty God who is with us always and in complete control of our life, we will not have that God-given peace that settles in our heart.
Our head says that we need physical assurances and insurances; God says that He is all we need. Our head says that the circumstances are against us; God says that no weapon forged against us will prevail. Our head questions "are you sure"; God answers "Go in peace."
We need to overcome our human thoughts and trust our Heavenly Father completely that He cares for us and therefore wants and wills to lead us out of our every "storm of life". And when we can do that, we can be like Jesus - be able to rest even when a storm rages on the outside.
May I wish you Shalom, the peace that God gives, always.
God bless.
Steven
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