The Shallow End - Advent Devotional Day 20

Scripture
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11

Reflection
I hope I’m not the only one, but often I find myself asking the Lord, “Why?” Sometimes it’s difficult to see the “good” in the midst of chaos. As I was meditating and reflecting on this verse, that little footnote after welfare caught my eye. So I dove in.

1. Jeremiah 29:11 Or peace

Peace. Huh, that’s a lot different than “good things in your favor”. That feels a little different than “problem free, worry free life”. I dug a little further. The ESV Study Bible notes that the Hebrew word for welfare is shalom, which covers all aspects of peace and plenty.

Sometimes I find myself living in a state of unknowns, dealing with the different complexities life has to offer. I was recently trying to describe this feeling to a friend and found myself saying “it’s like I’m flailing my arms in the shallow end of a pool, forgetting that I can just… stand up!” To me, I think that’s what that peace is. This wholeness, complete peace offered to us through Jesus. Remembering that the pool is shallow when we have the temptation to be overwhelmed by its depths. This same promise offered to the exiled Israelites in Jeremiah, return to the Lord and He will hear your prayers and restore you, is the same hope given to you and me through Jesus.

I hope in your moments of floundering in the shallow end of the pool, you can be reminded with me that we have been reconciled back to God through Jesus. This is our hope.

(Okay I want to share one more fun thing with you! If you have three minutes and forty eight seconds… check out this youtube video by The Bible Project on Shalom. It’s really cool. Shalom - Peace)

Prayer
God of Peace,
Thank you for holding us. Thank you for the gift of Jesus. Thank you for calling us back to you when we have wandered and that your grace extends in abundance. Help us remember in this season that you sent heaven down to us so that we may know you, dwell with you, delight in you. Lord, give us peace and help us become people of peace. May we experience shalom this advent season. Amen