The name Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord our peace, was discovered by Gideon when God told him to lead Israel against the Midianites – a position he felt was far beyond his capacity. ‘How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest…and I am the least in my family’ (v. 15 NIV 2011 Edition). Here’s how the Lord responded: ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites…Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.’ A frightened Gideon believed God and before the battle was even fought or the victory won, by faith he saw the peace already secured. So he built an altar to Jehovah-Shalom, ‘the Lord is peace!’ We often assume we’ll only have peace when our situation changes. Then like Gideon we learn that inward peace doesn’t depend on altering our outward circumstances; it depends on believing God is with you and experiencing His inner peace. Jesus promises: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace [inner, faith-based] I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives [outward, circumstantial]. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’ (John 14:27 NIV 2011 Edition). However inadequate you may feel to face the challenges today, remember Christ’s words: ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace…take heart! I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33 NIV 2011 Edition). Notice: your job is to ‘take heart’, and trust Jehovah-Shalom to handle the rest!