The Shalom Of Prayer

The Shalom of Prayer

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

GOD’S DESIGN FOR HIS PEOPLE is shalom—the peace, wholeness, fullness, and satisfaction of life that comes with living in his Kingdom. This Hebrew word for peace shows up throughout the Old Testament, even as part of the Messiah’s identity as the Prince of Shalom. This rich meaning is usually behind the New Testament word translated as “peace” in the New Testament, which was written in Greek by people steeped in Hebraic thought. When Paul tells us that presenting our requests to God without anxiety and with gratitude will result in peace, he surely means the fullness of God’s shalom. It’s a satisfying place of rest.

Anxious prayers bring no peace. If the energy or emotion behind our prayers is heavy, fearful, bitter, or hopeless, we are wrestling in prayer and not believing. There’s a place for that kind of prayer, to be sure—it often happens on our way to faith. And even if our wrestling doesn’t lead to the peace of faith, God still often answers. He’s merciful, after all, and meets us at our points of need. Desperate prayers are not inappropriate.

Still, God wants our conversations with him to be filled with faith, hope, reassurance, and peace. Many of the psalms begin in turmoil and end in gratitude because God has led the psalmist on a path toward faith and rest—that place of shalom in the inward spirit. He works best when we’re at rest—when we have released our burdens to him. Scripture is filled with battles that were won when his people worshiped, believed, and trusted. Sometimes they fought in faith; sometimes they didn’t even have to fight at all. Releasing the responsibility of a problem to God, with gratitude and praise, invites him into it. Knowing that fills our hearts with the shalom of the Kingdom, the fullness of peace in our lives.

“Let go and let God” is a trite saying, but trite doesn’t always mean untrue. Don’t abdicate your role in his plans, but do relinquish your anxiety about it. Trust him to carry the weight of his promises. Let the peace that exceeds understanding fill your heart and mind.

Worry is an intrusion into God’s providence.