When Peace Surpasses the Rumblings of the Soul.

Like a seismograph drawing the depth of the sea floor.  Back and forth.  Back and forth, it combs.

And though surface seems still.  And silent.  Lights dim.  All well.

I know something is wrong.

I feel it.  The text.  I get it.  Axis tilting in the wrong direction.

Sensing that falling.  Into something uncertain.  That even I couldn’t have predicted.

And it starts to rumble.  Inside.  And it’s been some time.  Since I have slain this rising giant.  

And I am tired.

And the tempting is to ride on it.  Throw the earth into shock.  Sound alarms of concern….

But then.  I hear. The good Shepherd. 

The gatekeeper of my souls.  Whispers….

“I am God.”

And Shalom floats upon my thoughts. Like a rescue cord.  Waiting for me to reach it.

And I have the choice.  Earthquake tides within me…..Or Peace.  In Greek Peace being…..”Eirene”.  Meaning…..”Rest.  Tranquility.  Calm.”

And I see.  The baby in a manger.  That morn. Herod after him.  Battles active.  Yet, He lay.  Rested.  Without a care in the world.

The disciples.  Their surrender.  And how they know the order.

1. Giving everything over.  First. Letting Jesus be Lord.  
2. Then, Shalom.  Then, their sanctification that was never really done…..

Until they experience Christ upon His throne.

But, somehow could we have gotten it wrong?  We want blessing.  Goodness.  Gifts.  Without first giving up our throne?  

And isn’t it in the giving all….where peace grabs hold? 

In the, “I surrender”. 

In the, “You are Lord.”….

Where real peace comes.

And after that….

Everything….

Just unfolds.  And it doesn’t matter what order.  How ugly.  Or how perfectly.  Life evolves.

All or nothing is enough when you have Shalom.

And though rumbles come like locus’ breeding.  Giants rise in tides of uncertainty….

Peace is a cord we can always grab onto.  It’s the cord that leaves “self” alone.  Needing.

Saying humbly.  Sacrifically….. “I can’t do this apart from Jesus.”

And isn’t the, “I can’t” the first step to all hope and healing.

And as we accept Jesus.  Giving to him all self-will and achievement.  He offers us Shalom.  Real peace….

The rest becoming easy.

More and more.  Day by day.  Working out our salvation.  With fear.  And trembling….

Until tides don’t rise.  And souls don’t tremble.  And all of creation has heard the trumpets.

And isn’t it there where every victory will be won?  Where peace will reign? When our King finally comes?

There when…..

Every knee shall bow.  Every tongue confess….

Jesus is the only way.  To Shalom.  Real peace.  True happiness.

Where He is God.

And earth bound rumblings have no effect.  Where seismographs and earthquakes matter less and less….

Where peace surpasses.  Everything.

In the sacrificial offering of all….

To Jesus.

(Linking with Tracy @ Daily Walk, Emily @ Imperfect Prose)