Reflecting on Shalom

For the past month or so, I've been meditating on the word "Shalom" and learning about what it means. Growing up, I knew it was accustomed to a Jewish greeting, then later I heard the literal meaning was peace. But shalom, and peace really, may be defined in a variety of ways by different people and perspectives. If you're interested in diving into varying biblical perspectives on this, Fuller has some articles here that I really enjoyed reflecting on. And my big takeaway has been how truly vast and wide I believe shalom is meant to be, and how little of holistic peace we see in the world. So it makes sense to me why Jesus named peacemaking as an identifier of the children of God:

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." - Matthew 5:9 

Where did that leave me? Honestly, well, with big feelings of overwhelm, grief, despair even. Nothing Lamentations hasn't covered. Looking at the world often leaves me hopeless. Reading prophets like Micah, Nahum, and Habakkuk bring glimmers of hope and comfort as I see the long-standing history of suffering and God bringing about his justice and promise of peace. But it's when I look to Jesus, the one who said “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), that my heart overflows - He has already overcome the trouble in this world, and that means I can look at what's going on and take heart because my wellbeing, my shalom, is safe in Christ. Even after Jesus' resurrection, he appears to the disciples saying, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). I don't just take comfort in this peace, but I'm sent by it. However the Spirit may be moving me, or may be moving you, may we be moved towards our God, loving others as ourselves.

"In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety."

- Psalm 4:8