the peacemaker

There are many names to God, but one of my favorites is Jehovah Shalmom: peacemaker. Christ continually tells us throughout scripture that we are to make and keep peace with the ones around us. That is what differentiates believers from nonbelievers. It is a beautiful display of Christ’s love and holiness.

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭14‬ ‭‬‬

Sometimes, though, people don’t want to make peace. Sometimes people want the strife, the anger, and the bitterness. What do we do in that situation? When I think of the name Peacemaker, I don’t only think of the calling it is for us, but what it is to us.

Peace is a wonderful feeling. I most often feel it when I’m on the beach listening to the ocean, or when I take my dog, Boone, outside early in the morning and everything is so so quiet. It’s that stillness, that quiet that makes me feel at peace. We can’t always have that stillness and quiet, though. Sometimes, we have to enter face first into the noise, walking head on into strife, knowing that not everyone not wants peace, no matter how hard you try.

That is when we turn our mind to Jehovah Shalom. The name Jehovah conveys the thought of being, existing, or becoming known. The term Shalom refers to soundness, harmony and the absence of strife. The absence of strife. That may not mean it is gone completely, but that does mean that when we allow God’s presence, the Peacemaker, to wash over us, it will wipe away the stain of strife and calm a heart that longs for peace. We will feel His presence creating strife’s absence.

I constantly must remind myself that peace is not the ocean or an early morning. True peace is only found in the God of Peace. True peace is only in his presence which surrounds us anywhere we are- in times of comfort, in times of fear, in your home, or in enemy territory.

Thinking back on Hebrews 12:14, not only are we called to make peace, but we are also reminded that, despite every effort to make peace, God is the ultimate Peacemaker.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Isaiah 26:3

We can do everything possible to make peace with others, and sometimes that peace just does not come. God doesn’t promise that you will be able to make peace with everybody. God does promise that He will make peace by his will and in his time. I am reminding myself that I may not see it, but God’s promises are true. I will keep my mind focused on him and trust Jehovah Shalom.