I’m sure many of you are familiar with the word “shalom”. Its Hebrew meaning: peace, rest, nothing missing, nothing broken. It’s one of my favorite words as it encompasses such a wealth of meaning and depth! When applied to the home, it comes alive even further.
I’ve lived through times where there was shalom in my home, and I’ve seen days that reflected just the opposite. I would rather have the first. How does one acquire this peace, this settledness, this “all is well”? There are many answers to this, honestly, but I would say start with cleanliness. You absolutely cannot have peace in your home when it is turned upside down. It is impossible. I have had five children. When my fifth was born, his nursery, shared with a seven-year-old a two- year- old was in grand upheaval. There were clothes everywhere and furniture parked incorrectly in the middle of the room. You can use your imagination for two seconds and dream up the nightmare this scenario was. There was not a moment of peace.
I’m going to throw this out there for free: if you know a mom that is struggling, go help her. Get some friends together, wipe your judgment at the doorstep and get in gear. She will never forget it, and you can sow good seeds when you do that. Anyway, I’m back to you. Girl, clean your house! I’m not perfect, but I strive to maintain order in this busy life. Get a schedule, get a planner. You might need to cross some things off your list and let them go undone.
Okay back to peace. Got the squirrel and shot it. We’re back on track now. John 14:27 is Jesus saying, “Peace I leave you with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” Did you know you can let your heart be troubled? You’re responsible for your peace! It is not your circumstances. Keep it steady, keep your eyes on Jesus through every storm. That means no matter what things look like, you stand on the promises of God. Another verse I love on this subject is Isaiah 26:3. “God will keep in perfect peace whose minds are steadfast because they trust in Him.” Again, it’s on us. He promised to keep us in perfect peace, but our job is to keep our mind steadfast on Him and to trust.
If you need to turn things around in your home, I have good news, you can! Toss the chaos coordinator shirt and the Struggle Bus bumper sticker and say “Hello Peace, hello Joy… its’s a new horizon- just like the Fear Is Not My Future song by Chandler Moore. It’s a good one. I challenge you to check it out. The fastest way to turn this battleship around is to get into peace and rest. Shalom!
