Jehovah Shalom: Peace in the Midst
Late in the summer I traveled by ferry with my family to go visit some small islands off the southern coast of Iceland. As we roamed around, we stopped at a museum dedicated to a volcanic eruption that took place in the 70s. The museum was literally built on top of the area where 400 houses were destroyed. It was a story of vast destruction, but no one lost their life.
As I read the story and saw the remnants of this catastrophic event, I was struck by how powerful peace is. Sometimes we receive peace before an event, other times afterwards and there are moments where we walk through part of the storm to find peace in the midst.
You see, the night before this lava fissure opened, a storm kept all the fishing boats stuck in the harbor. These boats were meant to be out on the ocean for several days. I can imagine the frustration and maybe worry that was stirred up during those 24 hours when the boats were stuck. But when the fissure opened the next night, spewing geysers of hot lava behind
the town, the people needed to escape the island.
Can you imagine the absolute relief they felt when they realized there was a way of rescue? The storm they thought was their detriment became a source of peace. There were still questions and challenges ahead but that night, peace was found in their midst.
I think about the place where we first encounter the word peace in the Bible. Gideon has just been given this call from the Lord to go out and fight. But he deals with so much worry and fear and asks for sign after sign. Finally, after realizing that he has encountered the angel of the Lord he is afraid.
“Then the Lord said to him, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it The-Lord-Is-Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.”
Sometime peace is not what we see laid out to us at the beginning. And the circumstances before us may seem opposite of the relief that we crave. But the beauty of our journey with Christ is that he is with us. Because of that, we have complete access to peace in the midst of whatever we face. We do not have to be afraid. As we submit to him, even the storm can shift into something that works out for good, according to His purpose.
Prayer of A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) to
El Jehovah Shalom, The Lord is Peace
Adoration
Lord, we are also incredibly grateful that you are Jehovah Shalom. You speak peace over us, bring peace to storms but most importantly, we praise you because you ARE peace—the prince of peace.
Confession
Forgive us Lord when we allow fear to dictate to us about your character. We don’t want to elevate any other voice above yours.
Thanksgiving
Thank you for how you have rescued us and turned challenging situations around for our good.
Supplication
Lord there may be situations where we can’t see what you’re doing in the midst. Perfect us in your love that casts out all fear. Help us to remember that you are in the midst with us and because of that, we can dwell in peace.
About Jenny...
Jenny is an author of fiction and creative non-fiction, speaker, wife to a handsome Viking from Iceland, and mother to four equally cute and fierce mocha drops. After receiving a Bachelor's and Master’s degree in Social Work, Jenny spent twelve years in pastoral ministry at The Rock FWC in Huntsville, Alabama. In 2018, her family followed the call of God to move to and serve in Iceland.
From Iceland, Jenny continues her passion for writing, creating and encouraging others. Her two published works, Becoming His and Milk & Honey in the Land of Fire & Ice, combine biblical fiction and compelling prose to help women cultivate Christ-Centered Identity, Intimacy and Influence. Her writing has also been featured in various blogs including Velvet Ashes. Over the years she has spoken at conferences, gatherings, small groups and Bible studies and she continues to do so in and from Iceland.
Jenny is the founder of Milk & Honey Women and Milk & Honey Books where she encourages others to remain firmly rooted in Christ as they step out in their unique purposes, including writing and publishing. Her desire is to help others break the fear of man off their lives so they can walk out their calling with beauty and boldness. Connect with Jenny on her website: milkandhoneywomen.com
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