Peace… Lost in Translation

I didn’t grow up in a church that celebrated Advent. I’ve searched out What’s The Right Way To Celebrate Advent? and then did a post each week following the themes of Advent: HOPE, LOVE, JOY, PEACE, and then a special CHRISTMAS message from me.

Listen to the Soul H2O Radio & Podcast Advent Series or the watch my Instagram Live Advent Series videos.

Soul H2O Radio & Podcast Show: HOPE, LOVE, JOY, PEACE

Soul H2O Devotions/Posts: What’s The Right Way To Celebrate Advent?
Advent Themes Posts: HOPE, LOVE, JOY, PEACE, and a special CHRISTMAS message from me.

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Soul H2O Devotion

Peace… Lost in Translation

My friend Claudia Raymundo only moved to Canada when she was about eight. Claudia is a certified translator and has worked on government projects to put English documents into Spanish or vice-versa. Even with all her training, when we’re talking, it seems there will always come a time when she’ll say, “Oh, how do you say this in English?” and sometimes she says there’s really no way to translate this word or phrase in English, so she paints me a picture with her words as to what it means.

Sometimes it’s just difficult to translate words from one language to another. And the word for peace in Isaiah 9:6 is one of those words.

Translating Peace

The English word translated peace here is Shalom in the original Hebrew. It truly is one of those “lost in translation” words. All of our Bibles translate this word to say peace but there really isn’t just one word that aptly defines it. The original word includes all of these definitions: well, happy, friendly; welfare, health, prosperity, peace, (good) health, peace(peaceable, peaceably), prosper(prosperity, prosperous), quiet, tranquillity, contentment, rest, safe(safety), salute, welfare, well, wholly. ¹

Do you see how translating shalom as “just” peace falls short of the original intent of what Isaiah was trying to convey? Jesus is the Prince of Peace but He came to bring much more than peace… much, much more. In our modern language I think holistically healthy and peaceful would be a better way to describe this little word Shalom.

Real Peace

In Luke 2:8-14 the angels proclaim to the shepherds how the Messiah would bring Peace on earth for all men, when they said: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” it wasn’t just some airy-fairy beauty pageant wish for “World Peace”, but a boots-to-the-ground, reality-ready, peace. That doesn’t mean you won’t have difficult circumstances, but that God’s presence, Emmanuel, God with us would bring peace in the midst of chaos, loneliness, and hurt.

Jesus knew what it was like to go through times where he faced complete distress. In the garden of Eden, before His crucifixion, Jesus was under so much anguish that he sweated drops of blood, which we know now is medically possible when someone is that stressed out. The issue isn’t that Jesus stressed this much but that He didn’t stay there.

Through prayer, Jesus released this toxic stress and put His faith in the Father, amidst the most difficult of circumstances. As you read the account of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion, you don’t see a man in worry, fear, or distress… He seems unrealistically calm and peaceful, not allowing the difficulties of life to steal the peace in His heart and mind.

Jesus got to the place of peace through struggle, so he could fully become your Prince of Peace. Now, it’s time for you to apply that peace to your life.

Prayer

Father… Thank You for understanding my need for peace and sending your son .Jesus, I thank You for being willing to come down to this earth and suffer, to be my peace. I ask for your holistically healthy and peaceful presence to invade my mind, emotions, and physical body. Let your true shalom bring peace to every area of my life. In Jesus Name…Amen

Join Me Weekly For Advent Talks

Through The Themes of Advent
Every Wednesday at 12-12:10pm EST
on Instagram Live

December 1(Hope), 8(Love), 15 (Joy), 22(Peace)

Verses to help fill up your well.

1. Isaiah 9:6
2. Luke 2:8-14
3. Ephesians 2:14
4. Colossians 1:20

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