A Hunger for Shalom

She woke with a hunger and a longing deep in her soul. Her dreams had taken her back to a time when she had felt whole and complete before death had entered her world. She ached to return to the time when light wasn't tinged with darkness when truth wasn't confused and tangled with thorny lies. She was hungry for shalom.

There was silence as the story was told. They leaned forward with a craving in their heart to hear what had once been their present and now was their past, their history. It was a time of peace and prosperity when the queen of Sheba had come to see the wisdom of Solomon. She responded to what she saw by saying, "The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold the half was not told me." (1 Kings 10:6,7) But that was a time before the darkness had eclipsed the light and the truth had been lost in the lie. They listened now and felt a yearning and a hunger for shalom.

There had been a promise given so very long ago, given on the same day the darkness fell when death and sorrow were introduced into the garden. It was the promise of shalom a promise that one day the curse would be broken, that light would overwhelm the darkness that truth would triumph over lies. And the world waited for the promise to be kept and there was a hunger for shalom.

His coming was announced by, "a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased." Here it was at last the promise of shalom. He came as the prince of peace telling all who would listen about His kingdom. He came to His own but they did not receive Him. Jesus wept and said, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace!" (Luke 19:42) The King has come the promise has been given. He is coming again to establish His kingdom but for now I have a hunger for shalom.

Lord Jesus, when you taught Your disciples to pray You taught them to say,"Your kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." This is my prayer as I live in a world where the light is tinged with darkness and the truth is often confused by lies. You are my king. Reign supreme in my heart You who are the prince of peace.