Peace, Be Still: Calming Chaos and Finding True Shalom
“Calm the chaos.” Have you ever been given that bit of advice?
I know I have, in a hundred different ways. Sometimes it’s the voice in my head (that sounds a lot like my mother) reminding me to make my bed everyday. Sometimes it’s the frantic scribble of a chore chart that this time will finally stick. Sometimes it’s in the “Settle. Down!” I yell over my shoulder and into the din of bickering kids in the minivan. Sometimes it’s the ‘Peace + Calm’ essential oil I drop into my diffuser with a muttered prayer.
I desperately want peace—in my life, in my heart, in the trying-to-get-out-the-door-with-four-kids chaos—but most of the time, I admit, I settle for ease.
And ease looks a lot like those ‘life hacks’ on Pinterest and the ‘as seen on TV’ displays near the grocery checkout. Easy sounds good. Quick sounds even better. But quick and easy are no substitute for true peace.
Which reminds me of a story in Mark–it’s kind of a two-parter so hang with me. In Mark 4 Jesus, after a long day of teaching, embarks on a journey across the Sea of Galilee. He is so exhausted, He curls up and falls fast asleep. (Because Jesus knows a nap is always a good idea.)
Suddenly, a harsh wind stirs up the sea and the tiny boat begins to take on water. The panicked disciples shake Jesus awake.
Then Jesus, unperturbed, calms the storm with a single phrase: “Peace, be still.” -Mark 4:39.
The chaos surrenders. And the waves lap gently as the boat glides to rest on the shore.
When Jesus and his disciples step out of the boat they are immediately met by a man afflicted by unclean spirits. The unclean spirits inside the man recognize Jesus as God Himself–they know they won’t last long in His presence. Jesus sends them into a herd of nearby pigs and the pigs then stampede off a cliff into the sea. The broken man is healed, restored, and commissioned as a gospel-preacher to his home-town.
While this story only takes a few verses, let’s remember that none of this was quick or easy. I’m sure the disciples were hoping for a nap and a hot dinner, not a harrowing sea-crossing and a crazy man. But here’s what I know about Jesus.
He will brave any storm to bring peace to your chaos.
The sole purpose of his trip across the sea was to meet with this man and bring him healing. Whether the storm was a completely natural weather phenomenon or whether it was powered by something more darkly spiritual.
Jesus weathers it, risks it–for this man. And He will do the same for us.
Our chaos–physical, emotional, relational, spiritual–is Jesus’ deep concern. Even more, it’s His calling. As Luke 19:10 reminds us, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Finding and restoring our broken bits is why Jesus came to earth and it’s the purpose He is still living out today.
True Shalom is found with Jesus
The Hebrew word for peace is “shalom”. It’s one of my favorite words in the Bible because it’s meaning is so rich. Shalom holds all these ideas within it’s 6 letters:
- Completeness in number, everyone is accounted for.
- Safety and soundness in body
- Welfare, health and prosperity
- Peace as in quiet, tranquility, contentedness
- Peace in relationships and friendships.
- Peace as in no longer at war. An ending of hostility.
I love this. I need this. Like the man in chains, tormented, rain beating down around me, chaos enveloping without and within–and then–Jesus. Heals. All. Peace reigns where Jesus reigns.
I wish healing came to my broken places as quickly as it did to the man in the story. Some of you know my story of autoimmune illness and the two years I wrestled with daily pain, broken skin, and limited abilities.
Like any true-blooded American, I wanted my peace expedited. Microwavable. Instant Pot fast. With a two-day shipping guarantee. But peace, true shalom, isn’t a drive-thru experience. It’s a journey, a process. I’m so thankful that healing came, in time.
But even more, I’m thankful for the shalom Jesus brought, the shalom He is still bringing.
Even while the storm rages, even when our bodies betray us, even when anxiety spins its web, even when we’re in uncharted territory–Jesus comes to us, providing not a quick or easy solution, but a peace we can anchor our lives on.
Jesus, anchor our hearts to You, the Prince of Peace. Heal us completely, bring abiding shalom, restore what we have lost, free us from our chains–we’ll never stop telling of Your goodness. The storms that meant to sink us will become our testimony: “You always come through for us.” Amen.
