Over the years, I have spoken with many people who are carrying burdens that others cannot see.
Some are worried about their children. Some are facing uncertainty about the future. Others are walking through seasons of disappointment, grief, or unanswered questions. From the outside, everything may appear normal, but inside there is a longing for peace.
The truth is that all of us need peace. Not the kind of peace that lasts for a moment and then disappears when circumstances change, but the kind of peace that remains steady even when life becomes difficult.
This is what makes the Hebrew phrase Shalom Rav (שָׁלוֹם רָב, Pronunciation: sha-LOHM rahv) so beautiful. It means “Abundant Peace.”
When the Bible speaks about peace, it is speaking about far more than the absence of conflict. The Hebrew word shalom carries the idea of wholeness, well-being, and resting securely in the care of God. It describes a heart that has found its confidence not in circumstances but in the Lord.
The psalmist writes:
“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.”
Psalm 119:165
What a remarkable promise. The writer is not saying that those who love God will never face difficulties. The Scriptures are honest about the challenges of life. What they promise is that God’s peace can sustain us in the midst of those challenges.
As I read these words, I cannot help but think of Yeshua.
On the night before His crucifixion, Yeshua sat with His disciples knowing exactly what awaited Him. Within hours He would be betrayed, arrested, and led to the cross. Yet in that moment He spoke words that continue to encourage believers to this day:
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27
What has always touched me about this verse is that Yeshua did not merely promise peace. He offered His peace.
Think about that for a moment. The same peace that filled His heart as He entrusted Himself to the Father is the peace He desires to place within us. It is a peace that does not depend on favorable circumstances. It is a peace that flows from knowing that God is faithful and that He remains in control even when we cannot see the whole picture.
I believe this is one of the reasons so many people were drawn to Yeshua. In a world filled with fear and uncertainty, they encountered someone who carried the peace of God wherever He went. Storms did not shake Him. Opposition did not control Him. Difficult circumstances did not overwhelm Him. He rested completely in His Father’s love and faithfulness.
The wonderful news of the Gospel is that this peace is not reserved for a select few. It is available to every person who places their trust in Him.
Perhaps as you read these words, there is an area of your life that feels unsettled. Maybe there are questions you cannot answer, burdens you cannot solve, or concerns that keep returning to your mind. If so, I want to encourage you not to focus first on finding solutions. Begin by drawing near to Yeshua.
Spend time in His presence. Open His Word. Bring your concerns before Him in prayer. The peace your heart longs for is ultimately found in Him.
As you reflect on Shalom Rav this week, make it part of your daily prayer. Ask the Lord to fill your heart with the peace of Yeshua. Pray it over your family. Speak it over your congregation. Declare it over Israel.
May the Lord fill you with His Shalom Rav, and may the peace of Yeshua guard your heart and mind today and in the days ahead.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the peace that is found in Yeshua. When fear, uncertainty, and worry seek to overwhelm me, help me to fix my eyes on You. Fill my heart with Your Shalom Rav and teach me to trust Your faithfulness in every circumstance. Let the peace of Yeshua guard my heart and mind and overflow into the lives of those around me.
In Yeshua’s name, Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Israel Pochtar
