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Shalom on the journey

Lynne Baab • Thursday October 16 2025

Shalom on the journey

The Apostle Paul is interested in relational harmony and peace among Christians. “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another” (Colossians 3:12, 13). Paul also longs for internal harmony and peace. “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. . . . For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do” (Romans 7:15, 19).

Paul’s inner turmoil has been so comforting to me. I am not alone in my struggles! His words were especially real when I was the mother of very young children. I had many moments when I wanted to be kind but couldn’t pull it off. I had even more moments of wanting to be healthy and strong, yet I would eat an entire batch of cookies for comfort.

My new book came out today. In it, I describe my journey of healing from binge eating that brought me to a place that I call “almost peaceful.” I spent a long time trying to come up with a title using the word “shalom.” I love that word, but I couldn't figure out a title that incorporated it. “Peaceful” works, though, in my book title. We often think of peace as the absence of war or conflict. My many steps of healing exposed the sources of my inner conflict, so similar to Paul’s. That inner conflict drove me to turn to food for comfort as well as forgiveness and self-punishment.

I entitled the book Almost Peaceful because the journey continues. I don't binge eat any more, but in times of stress, I still turn to food for comfort. The amounts, however, are within or close to the range of healthy eating. I still have a lot to learn about listening to my body and stopping eating when my body lets me know I’ve had enough.

I used “almost” in the title for an additional reason. In Christ, God has redeemed us. We are being further redeemed as we live each day. I look forward to the day when I will experience total peace with my body and in all relationships. I’m not there yet.

The word “shalom,” well over 200 times in the Hebrew scriptures, is also relevant for my journey of healing. About a quarter of the uses of shalom refer to the absence of war (see 1 Sam. 7:14). In about 10% of the passages, shalom is used as a greeting, as it is today in Israel (see the last word in Ezra 4:17). More than half of the uses of shalom in the Old Testament refer to overall wellbeing: emotional, relational, and physical.

Sadly, we have no equivalent word in English, and shalom is often translated as “peace.” Yes, we long for the absence of war and conflict. We also long for wellbeing in all areas of life.

For the past few years, the word “shalom” has appeared frequently in my prayers as I pray for overall wellbeing for friends, family members, the staff of my church, those who show love and justice to people in need, and world and local leaders. I long for full, rich shalom for myself, and I praise God for the deepening shalom I experience within my body from my healing from binge eating.

I want to give you two passages that illustrate how shalom can be envisioned. I had no idea these passages had shalom in the original Hebrew until I did the research for this blog post.

Genesis 42 and 43 are dramatic chapters, where Joseph meets his brothers, who sold him into slavery. Before the brothers know who Joseph is, this exchange happens. Joseph “asked them about their wellbeing, and said, ‘Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?’ And they answered, ‘Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.”

Note the words in bold. All of them are shalom in the Hebrew. Jeremiah 29:7 is often quoted, yet I never knew that shalom appears so frequently in it. Again, I have bolded the places where shalom appears in the Hebrew.

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

I encourage you to incorporate this idea of wellbeing and welfare into your prayers as you pray for peace in various areas of life and within yourself. And may God bring you peace on your journey of healing from whatever you struggle with.

Jesus, Prince of Peace, giver of shalom, we greet you today. Shalom, Lord. Thank you for being with us. Please teach us to pray for shalom for people we love and also for those we dislike. Guide us into prayers for shalom for ourselves. Shine your peace, in the fullest meaning of that word, into our world.

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My new book, Almost Peaceful: My Journey of Healing from Binge Eating, is available in paperback and for Kindle.

Next week: Hope on the journey. Illustration by Dave Baab: The painting of flowers used on the cover of my new book, adapted by graphic designer Audra Mote into a cover design that I think conveys peace and joy.

Some previous posts about the journey of faith:

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