Shalom Sistas: Living Wholeheartedly in a Brokenhearted World

by Osheta Moore

The second area of seeking shalom is in my relationship with myself. 4. Our hearts break when we feel that our bodies and skin are unwanted, unlovely, or liabilities in this world. But in the kingdom of God, we know that God breathed his very image into humanity, which means every single person is an image-bearer of a beautiful God. So we will see the beauty. 5. Our hearts break when we tie our value to our production and run ourselves ragged in order to accomplish and gain more. But in the kingdom of God, rest and work have equal value; the economy of God is measured by love and trust, not dollar signs and billable hours. So we will rest. 6. Our hearts break when we see injustices and feel overwhelmed by sadness all around. But in the kingdom of God, the melody of heaven persistently breaks into a dark world. So we will choose subversive joy. The third area of relationships in which I want to see shalom is with others: the people in my life with whom I interact every day. 7. Our hearts break when a person we trust betrays us or when a group of people make choices that negatively affect us. They quickly become our enemies, and we tell stories in which our enemies are always the villains deserving of judgment. But in the kingdom of God, we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Love gives nuance to their behavior and shifts us, as the victims, from the center of the narrative. So we will tell better stories.