Jesus and The Back Porch
Take a moment and think about the scene or image that would bring you peace. Is it a tropical beach? A mountain cabin? A bustling metropolis with quaint cafes and museums? Or would it be a time and season of your life? Is it a place that lives only in your memories now? I believe we all have an idea of what kind of place will bring peace to our minds. I used to think of peace in this light. Where is the place where I can relax and the anxieties of my life will melt away? For me, being in nature, specifically the mountains with forests and water is what stirs my soul and seems to reset me.
Peace is a highly sought-after commodity. There are a plethora of books and podcasts to help one find it. Cities are filled with yoga studios that promise finding inner peace (and amazing core strength). Doctors and therapist’s diagnose the antithesis of peace (anxiety) and practice all sorts of theories and prescribe all sorts of medication. The culture promotes movies and television about people finding peace in relationships or choices they make that “bring them happiness.” It seems that peace is the thing everyone wants and strives to find. Now I’m not saying that the things listed above are bad and can’t be used to help people in a variety of different ways. I’m a therapist by trade. I am in therapy myself. I take supplements and medication to help my mental and emotional state. I love a good yoga workout and movie. What I have realized during this difficult season of my life is that peace is so much more than the absence of anxiety.
The word for peace in Hebrew is the word, “shalom,” and it’s meaning has much more depth to it than the English translation of, “peace.” Shalom means wholeness, completeness, soundness, health, safety, and prosperity, carrying with it the implication of permanence. In contrast, the English translation of peace comes from the Latin, “pax,” which meant to the Romans the cessation of hostilities between the conqueror and the vanquished; however, this peace was always temporary because it depended on who was in the position of strength. So, it’s no wonder that my mentality from the view point of the English language is that I have to conquer my anxiety or the hostilities in my life so that I can have peace. But, that doesn’t seem to be the context of peace from the lens of the Bible.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT
These are the words of Jesus encouraging his disciples prior to his death. He told his disciples, which includes the believers of today, that the Christian life is not going to be relaxing on the back porch of a mountain cabin and free from anxiety. That this life will be filled with “many trials and sorrows.” But, I notice that despite being in the midst of trials and sorrows, Jesus says where I can find peace; where I can find shalom: in Him. But what does that mean in tangible form?
When I found out I had cancer, I had this experience with God “speaking” to my heart (not audibly, but a thought that resonated in my soul), that I could carry the weight of the trial, or the weight of His peace. Now in that moment and the months to follow, I believed His peace to be the absence of anxiety and fear. God has been very faithful to give me a state of calmness during this difficult season. But just the other day, as I was praying and thinking about this blog entry, I had another thought pop into my mind and it was, “Megan, you can carry the weight of the trial, or the weight of my wholeness for you; the weight of Shalom.” It was in that moment that I realized, maybe for the first time, that while God doesn’t want me to have fear or anxiety in this life, He also DOES want me to experience His healing and restoration for my soul.
God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 NLT
The word for “save” in this verse means to be restored and healed. It has been through this season of wrestling with: the trials of cancer, drastic changes in our family, major health issues with other family members, and family drama that has broken my heart, in addition to the turmoil happening on the macro scale of the world; that has me a state of brokenness, being powerless, and having to fully surrender to Jesus every day in a way I never have before. Through the tears and snotty tissues, I realized that it is through these trials that I am being healed, not judged or punished. He is using these trials and this season of my life to train me to depend on Him, strengthen my faith, and address some very old wounds and generational issues that need to be healed. So, despite the hard days, tears, emotions, and the snotty tissues, I praise Him for finding my restoration, healing, and wholeness in Him, because that is the peace He wants me (and you) to experience.
So, while sitting on the back porch of a mountain cabin, listening to the gentle sounds of nature, with a cup of coffee in my hand is my vision of conquering my anxiety; my peace—my wholeness, completeness, restoration, and healing—comes from Jesus, whether I am on the back porch or in the midst of the fiery trial. May you find your peace, His shalom, in Jesus today, and every day.
Megan Sinisi absolutely adores a good cup of coffee, chocolate, and sitting with people to share life stories. She is a native to Las Vegas, born and raised, and has four beautiful children with her handsome husband, Vincenzo. She is a counselor, specializing in the field of addictions, with multiple certifications, both in Nevada and nationally. She directed Nevada’s largest treatment court and has been building her private practice since 2014, acquiring contracts with the City of Las Vegas, City of Henderson, Clark County Special Defender’s Office, and Zappos.com. It is because of her own journey of healing and through her career that she has learned the wounds we have can begin to be healed as we share our stories. She considers it an honor when someone shares their story with her, and hopes that as she shares her stories of victory and healing that others can be inspired, encouraged, and challenged. Megan has a love and fervor for writing and is walking in faith that God is calling her to use that passion and gift for His glory. She is someone who is known for her honesty and transparency that brings light to difficult situations and feelings, and offers hope and encouragement for the journey of life. It is her hope that by sharing her journey, it encourages, challenges, inspires, comforts, and most importantly, shines the light of Jesus and the reality of His love, grace, and mercy. You can find more from Megan at www.meganjsinisi.com And @meganjsinisi on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.