PEACE

Originally sent December 2025, updated on website Jan 2026

We all want peace. Especially when it seems the whole world is frantic around us. The commercial version of Christmas promises peace, purchased through gifts and decorated with trees and carols. Yet, for some, it fails to deliver peace and is a reminder of what was lost in seasons past.

For us in Christ, peace is the third fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians – and this world needs us to hold it more and more. The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom and even though the text was translated from Greek, it is the Hebrew understanding of the word that is most accurate for reasons I will explain later. 

The word Shalom is sometimes referenced in Churches, and its depth is known by many. Even for the initiated, it’s good to be reminded.

A life of Shalom is a long life, with good health. It is lived in God’s blessing – in prosperity and safety. Shalom is the peace we have with God, where there is no longer enmity. Shalom is not necessarily determined by external circumstances, but circumstances and responses can be governed by the shalom inside of you. Shalom in an organization means all things are in order, without imbalance of structure or poor communication, and a life of Shalom is lived in righteousness and joy.

In English, we use the words Hello and Goodbye for greetings and partings. While Hello is somewhat uninteresting in its history, Goodbye is a shortened form of “God be w’ ye”. In Hebrew, they use the word Shalom.

Shalom is much deeper and speaks to a whole world of blessing. Shalom is a powerful concept, and on every greeting and parting is spoken as a declaration to friends and neighbours as they meet. So, I ask myself, and I ask you – Is there a way that we can make it part of our greeting too? It certainly should be something that we pray for and declare over our lives and the lives of those around us.

As David strengthened himself in the Lord, we also may regain our footing and peace in the midst of turmoil. Peace in the midst of turmoil is spiritual warfare, as one finds stability in an unstable world. Peace (Shalom) is something that we can find, but it is also something that comes to us supernaturally. As we “know” the Holy Spirit more, all fruit should be more evident in our lives – and that includes peace.

Peace in the Holy Spirit is not just rest – but also an active place of blessing. It is a dynamic of justice and righteousness. It may not mean riches, but it insinuates no lack.

Words used to translate between languages often don’t have identical meanings. While we read it in English, it is a translation from ancient language – in particular, for the New Testament – Koine Greek, a marketplace version of the language used as a common language across the Roman Empire. Among Jesus, the disciples, and Paul, the daily language would have been Aramaic; however, Hebrew was read in the Synagogue, so we will lean on the Hebrew understanding, as that was the cultural  So, when you do know the dynamic of New Testament peace: Shalom, it becomes something you want to wish on everyone around you.

In the ESV, the concept of peace occurs 94 times in 86 verses; that number increases to 367 occurrences in the entire bible. In Hebrew, it is a word of greeting, but it has a depth of meaning that is far beyond the absence of tension – a concept that we should embrace more and more each day.

I pray that this Christmas will bring you a great revelation of Shalom. May you know His peace – His goodness – His prosperity and His blessing more and more.

From us at Lana Vawser Ministries – Shalom to you and your home. May your home be a bastion of peace always – no matter the turmoil outside your door.

Kevin Vawser