![\"\"](\"https:\/\/refocusingwidows.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/RefocusingWidows-banner.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The search for peace and quiet has existed since time immemorial! It could very well be that the number one thing humankind searches for is peace! God\u2019s name that we\u2019re going to look at next is one of the most beautiful images He has put within us, and it speaks directly to our need for calm, security, and stability. It is the name Jehovah Shalom,<\/em> which means \u201cThe Lord is Peace.\u201d<\/p>\n Turmoil is a word that characterizes the present day and age. Everywhere we look there is turmoil and chaos around us: governments, economies, educational systems, and social upheavals \u2013 to say \u00a0\u00a0nothing of natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunami waves, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes of gigantic proportions. The news is filled daily with reports of wars, riots, and violence.<\/p>\n Yet, the worst turmoil of all often takes place in one\u2019s own soul, demonstrated by internal pain, anxiety, depression, and regret, leaving you with an unsettled ache within yourself,<\/p>\n God first reveals himself in the book of Judges, chapter 6 in the midst of the story of Gideon. Israel had come into the Promised Land, but even in the land of promise, the people experienced struggles and warfare and chaos. They had been brought into their destiny, yet they continued to face powerful enemies and battles. Apparently, you can arrive at the place God has for you and still experience turmoil! In the book of Judges, we see a cycle that the Children of Israel repeated over and over: sin, punishment, repentance, and deliverance. The name Jehovah Shalom<\/em> appears in the midst of this sequence.<\/p>\n Israel had turned to the gods of the nations around them, incorporating idol worship into their own religion. An idol is that thing you ultimately count on for your provision, direction, and satisfaction. The Israelites had stopped looking to God as the one who made the universe. Instead, they had added Him to their collection of gods. They hadn\u2019t given up their religion; God was still part of the equation. They had just dropped Him into the plethora of deities to whom they appealed. God considers this kind of idolatry to be sin in the greatest degree!<\/p>\n In Judges 6, we find God calling an ordinary man to do an extraordinary thing. Gideon had a huge inferiority complex, and when the angel addressed him as \u201cMighty Warrior\u201d, he rather looked around for someone else! Gideon saw himself as somewhat less than God saw him! And isn\u2019t that the case when we feel as though God is calling us to do something for Him? We look around to see who might be much more qualified or equipped!<\/p>\n In Judges 6:21-24, we see how distressed Gideon was when he realized he had seen the angel of the Lord face-to-face! It was at this point that God revealed himself to Gideon as Jehovah Shalom<\/em>. The Lord said to him, \u201cPeace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.\u201d <\/em>He experienced God\u2019s presence and found peace in knowing that God was with him. Why was he encouraged and strengthened? Not because the challenge had gone away, but rather that he was certain that God was indeed with him!<\/p>\n God gave Gideon peace before he even entered into battle. Peace doesn\u2019t come because our outward situations change. Peace comes because God, who lives in you, is greater than anything you may face. God wants you to find your peace in HIM, not in your circumstances.<\/p>\n So, let\u2019s look at this idea of peace. What is Peace anyway? Peace is something bigger than simple calm. The word shalom<\/em> means \u201cwholeness, completeness, or well-being.\u201d It means having things properly aligned and ordered. Shalom<\/em> comes from living in harmony with God. The fruit of that harmony is harmony with others. When you pray to Yahweh Shalom<\/em>, you are praying to the source of all peace. The Greek word for peace is Eirene, <\/em>and it means \u201cto live life at its best!\u201d Does this sound anything like the abundant life Jesus promised?<\/p>\n While happiness depends on your circumstances, peace has to do with well-being regardless of circumstances. A person who is at peace is stable, calm, orderly, and at rest within. The truest manifestation of peace is a well-being that resonates from within despite what\u2019s going on all around. Being at peace doesn\u2019t mean being calm when everything around you is calm. When all is calm, you\u2019re supposed to be calm!! Being at peace means you\u2019re at rest even when everything else seems to be going wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cJesus said, \u2018These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.\u2019\u201d \u2013 John 16:33<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s one thing for the world to be falling apart, but it\u2019s another thing for you to be falling apart with it! As you\u2019re walking out this journey of grief and learning to live as a widow on your own, this is one of the most important lessons to learn. There will definitely be times when you will feel like you\u2019re surrounded by chaos and impossibilities. Those are the moments to turn inward and find the peace that only Jehovah Shalom<\/em> can give you.<\/p>\n So, how do we appropriate this name of God \u2013 this Jehovah Shalom<\/em>? We enter by standing firmly in faith in our connection to Jesus Christ. Shalom<\/em> tells us that the secret to victory over life\u2019s drama is God Himself. We find this kind of peace in the very presence of Christ.<\/p>\n \u201cCome to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden,\u201d Jesus invites, \u201cand I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.\u201d \u2013 Matthew 11:28-29<\/em><\/p>\n Knowing the Truth and aligning our thoughts with the Truth are powerful ways to experience peace. If you desire to know true well-being and wholeness despite life\u2019s circumstances, you must be in God\u2019s presence. In His Presence, everything changes, and the storms become calm places of rest.<\/p>\n As you consider the situations that you may be facing, are you taking time to be in God\u2019s presence and reflect on these names. How do they apply to your daily life? Elohim, the Creator; Jehovah, the Relational One; Adonai, your Lord \u2013 Provider and Protector; El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One; and Jehovah Shalom, the Lord is Peace. Are you appropriating each of these names to help you process grief and face the situations of your life? I encourage you to spend time thinking on these names and what they mean to you. You will find your inner being transforming even when your outer circumstances may not be changing. You will find The Lord is Your Peace.<\/p>\n Como siempre, sus pensamientos y comentarios son bienvenidos aqu\u00ed o puede enviarme un correo\nelectr\u00f3nico a \u00a0<\/a>. Si est\u00e1 buscando un nuevo prop\u00f3sito y un camino para seguir\nadelante, considere unirse a uno de nuestros grupos de Refocusing Widows, ya sea en persona o en\nl\u00ednea. Puede registrarse en www.refocusingwidows.org\/Groups<\/a>. \u00a1Esperamos conocerle!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is Peace The search for peace and quiet has existed since time immemorial! It could very well be that the number…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_customify_content_layout":"","_customify_sidebar":"","_customify_page_header_display":"default","_customify_disable_header":"","_customify_disable_header_top":"","_customify_disable_header_main":"","_customify_disable_header_bottom":"","_customify_disable_page_title":"","_customify_disable_content_vertical_padding":"","_customify_disable_footer_top":"","_customify_disable_footer_main":"","_customify_disable_footer_bottom":"","_customify_breadcrumb_display":"","_customify_header_transparent_display":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[24,25,42,9,48,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-encouragement","category-grief","category-hope","category-inspirational","category-moving-ahead","category-personal-growth"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n