Jehovah Shalom: God is Our Peace

Jehovah Shalom means God is the Lord of Peace and that we can find solace in Him alone. 

Are you going through a stressful time in your life? Is peace something you cannot grasp no matter how hard you try? Often life can feel like an endless search for peace and happiness. But you will soon discover that lasting peace is unattainable apart from God, for God is Jehovah Shalom. Read on to learn about the God of peace and the kind of peace He alone can give you.

What Does Jehovah Shalom Mean?

Jehovah Shalom translation

Jehovah means God, and Shalom is a Hebrew term that means peace, tranquility, or wholeness. Thus, Jehovah Shalom translates to “The Lord is our peace” or “The Lord is peace.”

Biblical background of Jehovah Shalom

Judges 6:24 is the only place in the Old Testament where Jehovah Shalom is mentioned. The book of Judges describes a period of Israelite history when the nation began to reach the Promised Land. There was resistance from the locals to the Israelites going in. They were less than enthusiastic about it. The Israelites struggled with confidence in God and loyalty to Him. As a result of contact with their pagan neighbors, the people strayed away from worshipping the God of Heaven.

Their neighbors frequently persecuted the Israelites. Things were tough for them. Individually and collectively, they were troubled and distressed. At this time, the Israelites were not at all quiet. God used judges like Gideon to get Israel back on the right track with Him. A Hebrew judge’s role was to point the people back toward God whenever necessary. But then they would return to their old habits, abandoning the one true God. The Midianites plundered the Israelites of their most prized possessions during their invasion. They caused untold misery and anguish in their lives. The Israelites took refuge in caverns and mountains and gathered together out of fear of their foes.

Gideon established an altar and named it “the Lord is Peace.” When there was no calm in Israel or the hearts of its people, God sent a deliverer. The story of Gideon is a powerful illustration of how, despite our circumstances, God can grant us His peace if we trust Him and obey His plan for us.

Bible Verses about Jehovah Shalom

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed in you because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! Psalm 29:10-11

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

For to us, a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

The Truth about God’s Peace

God is the only true giver of everlasting peace.

Aiming for a problem-free life is like hitting a ball with a feather – an impossible feat through our strength. But even though we know this as a fact, we still find peace in a fallen world. We look for it in places, circumstances, and people. Sure, we can have periods of peace. Imagine taking a vacation and lying on a hammock by the beach! But these moments are temporary and costly in a world like ours. When we give our loyalty and allegiance to God, we come to realize that we have received peace. And this kind of peace is eternal and something no one can steal from us.

God’s peace does not mean the absence of problems.

Many people believe that when they accept Jesus as their Lord, then problems will cease to exist. This belief is erroneous and leads individuals away from the gospel of Christ. Jesus knew many of His followers would have to face challenges and threats. God does not promise a life free from difficulties. But He promised His presence, and it is in God’s presence that we will find peace to overcome the most painful and challenging moments of our lives.

Jesus is the Prince of peace, and His finished work is the source of our peace.

As a result of the fall of man in Genesis 3, we have become enemies with God. There was a division in our relationship that no good works can reconcile. When Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, our relationship with God was mended (Romans 5:10). Jesus was the offering that restored the peace to our connection with the Father. A strong relationship and fellowship with God is the foundation of a joyful and peaceful life. Because of Jesus, we do not just experience peace on earth, but we are also assured of eternal life and peace.

Importance of Jehovah Shalom Today

God’s peace frees us from our anxieties, fears, and worries.

Jehovah Shalom brings peace that surpasses human understanding while everyone is increasingly stressed, conflicted, depressed, anxious, and worried about their finances, emotions, and physical well-being. The peace God grants us is more than a feeling of calm in the present. This peace is a promise from God that cannot be broken. When we accept Jehovah Shalom, we are enveloped in the serenity that we might not fully grasp. It is even possible for us to feel unworthy or unprepared. 

Life’s challenges may make us feel helpless. But God intervenes despite the difficulties, claiming us as His own. He gives us tranquility amidst the turmoil. The serenity that comes from Jehovah Shalom renews and refreshes us despite our mistakes and imperfections. It is peace from the Lord that cannot be shaken by anything.

God’s peace reigns in our lives, always.

The first step toward everlasting peace is acknowledging God as the ultimate Peacemaker. This truth is what Jehovah Shalom is all about. His name is more than simply a label. It is an open invitation, a request that we let His serenity permeate every part of our beings. Each of us has our own faith journey to experience and embrace Jehovah Shalom. 

In the end, God promises that we arrive in the same place: the peace of God that exceeds all understanding. We can experience God’s peace in different ways every day. Some days, tranquility may seem unattainable, while it may fill us on others. But God reigns over our lives every day and forever. Each day is vital to our growth as followers of Christ. 

As we learn more about Jehovah Shalom, we are urged to do more than accept God’s peace; we are also called to share it.

God’s peace is accessible even in times of trouble.

We live in a divided and fallen world. The difficulties we encounter are becoming more intricate and impossible to overcome. God is a source of strength and solace for His people amid severe problems. Even when storms rage and life’s waves crash upon us, Jehovah Shalom is our rock and anchor. God’s presence does not guarantee that storms will never occur, but He promises He will be with us through them. 

Also, Jehovah Shalom’s importance extends beyond the realm of our individual life. Discord and conflict are common in our modern communities. Conflicts have broken out on every level of society. We have to feel it in our hearts first and then be the light that brings peace to the world around us. We allow God’s peace to work in our hearts and minds to change our lives, and we become instruments of God’s peace in our homes, places of work, neighborhoods, and the world.

Prayer to Jehovah Shalom

Heavenly Father, and Prince of Peace, I praise you for your majestic work. Thank you for your steadfast love and faithfulness in my life. I come before you today, aware of my need for you. A lot of things trouble my heart. I am worried about my family, my future, and the state of the world. There are days when it can feel chaotic in my mind, and I find it difficult to take my thoughts captive. 

I become shaken and afraid and I know full well that I cannot go on living in this state of endless worry. Also, I long to feel and experience the peace only you can provide. I surrender to your might and sovereignty and I know that I am not in control; you are. Afford rest and calm to my weary spirit. Quiet my endless anxieties and fears. Bring peace not only in my life but in the world as well. Raise peacemakers who will share your Good News of everlasting peace in all corners of the globe. Be glorified, O God! I pray all these in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

In Summary

God is called Jehovah Shalom. This name means that He is the Lord of peace. Many trials rampage our lives daily, but the peace that our Jehovah Shalom offers amidst life’s storms is an inward and lasting one. Amid our difficulties, we find solace in Him alone. God’s peace reigns over our lives when we accept Christ as Lord and Savior. 

It does not mean that we are immune to problems or negative emotions. It means that we have this supernatural gift of peace to wield. Although we are powerless over life’s circumstances, we realize the happiness, strength, and peace we need to face each day because of Jehovah Shalom. As we experience peace in the presence of God, we become peacemakers in this world. As you tread life, may your experience the everlasting peace of Jehovah Shalom.