Even Keel

(Proverbs 3:17 KJV)  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

“Peace” (7965) [shalom] is a basic to wisdom.  Notice that this is one of those Hebrew words that are familiar to a lot of us.  It is one of those words, like “aloha” which can be used in many contexts and always has a positive connotation.  It also requires some understanding.  This is not the peace of no conflict.  This is not the god of the peacenik. 

Shalom may be expressed in our environment and our culture but ultimately it is an inner assurance.  We live in troubled times.  We have “wars and rumors of wars”.  We have seen earthquakes and hurricanes.  The corruption and perversion that we are seeing in the news is at flood levels.  In the midst of that we can have Shalom.  We can know peace.  It is because we know, and fear, God, which is the beginning of wisdom.

So?  I cannot assure you that the next big storm won’t take away your electricity.  I can assure you that you personally will never lose the power to keep an even keel.