SIMPLE40 - DAY 14 - Shalom, The Best Kind of Peace

Katie Donahue
Mar 4
6 min read

As we continue simplifying our lives and creating space for what truly matters, I keep coming back to one word that captures it all for me: Shalom.

I love everything this word embodies.

Shalom is Hebrew for peace, but it means so much more than the absence of conflict. It literally means to be complete and whole.

Not fragmented.

Not striving.

Not scattered.

Whole.

In Scripture, Shalom carries layers of meaning: prosperity, well-being, safety, success, wholeness, integrity, harmony, balance, truth, justice, health. It is symphony rather than noise. Alignment rather than chaos. It is the kind of peace that touches friends, families, and even nations. We could use more Shalom in our world these days.

Shalom is also used as a greeting and a blessing...a way of saying,

“I wish you every good thing.”

And here is what moves me most: Shalom is the work of God.

He is the Author of harmony.

He is Justice.

He is Truth.

He is Peace itself.

We are already two weeks in to Lent and perhaps you are discovering that simplicity is not just about decluttering your home or disciplining your habits. Perhaps it is about restoring Shalom in the deepest sense.

In Jewish understanding, Shalom flows in four directions:

1) Shalom with God

We were created in His image and likeness. He desires relationship, peace and love...not distance. When we rest in His love and surrender our striving, we begin to experience the wholeness He intended from the beginning.

2) Shalom within Self

Peace comes from true self-knowledge. When we know who God made us to be...our temperament, our gifts, our limits...we stop competing and start living with integrity. We live aligned instead of divided. That is Shalom.

3) Shalom with Others

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) Shalom begins at home. In our tone. In our forgiveness. In our patience. We are called not just to receive peace, but to bring it into everything...our conversations, into tension, and into ordinary moments.

4) Shalom in Our Surroundings

Our homes and workplaces should reflect order, beauty, and intention...not perfection. Simplicity helps create environments where peace can breathe.

Maybe today is less about doing more and more about asking:

Where is God inviting me into greater wholeness and restoration?

May we reject fragmentation and choose completeness.

May we reject anxiety and choose wholeness.

May we receive and become Shalom. Dona Nobis Pacem

spiritual

One way to live Shalom and bring it to others is through enthusiasm and joy for God's word. Is there a particular Bible passage that brings you great joy? Here are a few to meditate on today that will lead you to peace:

The Lord gives strength to His people, the Lord blesses His people with peace. ~Psalm 29:11 My grace is enough for you, for My power manifests itself in your weakness. ~2 Corinthians 12:9 Peace I leave with you, My own peace I give to you; a peace the world cannot give, this is My gift to you. Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid. ~John 14:27 I have told you these things so that you will have peace in Me. In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage! I have conquered the world. ~John 16:33 Click the link below for a fun video with Lisa Cotter explaining 5 Catholic Hacks to grow in peace. My favorite is the Holy Water spray bottle! 5 Catholic Hacks for Peace

self

If Shalom means completeness and wholeness, then it must first take root within.

One of the simplest and most powerful tools for restoring inner Shalom is journaling.

When you write things down, or speak them out, you clear mental clutter. You move thoughts from chaos to order. You begin to see what you are actually feeling instead of being ruled by it. That kind of awareness creates integrity within yourself. And integrity is a pillar of Shalom.

Journaling helps you:

Identify and process emotions
Gain clarity on decisions
Recognize patterns
Invite growth instead of avoidance

As you reflect regularly, you begin to notice where you are aligned… and where you are fragmented. That awareness alone can bring a surprising sense of peace.

If you are consistent with journaling, beautiful.

If you are like me and journal three days in a row and then disappear for three weeks, welcome.

One thing I have found helpful is verbal journaling in the Notes app on my phone. I open a new note (or add to an old one) and just talk. No editing. No overthinking. Sometimes I reread it, sometimes I don’t. I am not attached to the outcome, but I love the brain dump. It clears space. And clearing space makes room for Shalom.

Your Challenge Today

Spend 40 intentional minutes in movement. Movement restores Shalom in the body. It lowers stress hormones, releases endorphins, and reminds you that you are not stuck. Walk, stretch, strength train, clean your house with intention...just move. Let it be prayerful. Let it be grounding. Let it be whole.
Journal, one way or another, on Shalom. Use one or all of these prompts. Let Scripture guide you.

Even though your life has struggles and trials, is your overall spirit peaceful?
When you face difficulties, do you remain rooted in peace, or easily shaken?
Do you trust that even hard things are strengthening your faith and shaping you?
Do you choose joy when circumstances are difficult, allowing your emotions to follow truth instead of fear?
Are you certain that God is in control, even now?

Shalom does not mean life is easy. It means your spirit is anchored and you are not divided within yourself. It means your trust is bigger than your fear.

Today, clear the clutter. Move your body. Quiet your mind. Align your heart.

Choose wholeness. Choose Shalom.

service

Peace is the simplicity of spirit, the serenity of conscience, the tranquility of the soul and the bond of love. Peace is order, it is the harmony in each one of us, it is a continual joy that is born in witnessing a clear conscience, it is the holy joy of a heart wherein God reigns. Peace is the way to perfection, or, even better, in peace dwells perfection. And the devil, who knows all this very well, does everything possible to cause us to lose our peace. ~St. Padre Pio

Peace is order says Padre Pio. So, with that in mind, think of an area of your life that needs more order and do something about it. Is that "junk" drawer overflowing and driving you nuts? Is there a stack of paper/mail/books/clothes that needs just 5 minutes of your attention to throw away, put away or donate? Are your food storage containers all mismatched so you can never find the right lid for the container you just grabbed? That used to be our reality. Then my husband came home from a retreat completely inspired by the beautifully organized kitchen cupboards at the retreat house. He noticed something simple but brilliant: all the containers were stored with their lids on. No separate pile of tops. No digging. No frustration. He realized it did not actually take up any more space than what we were already using...it was just arranged differently.

So we matched every container with its proper lid and started storing them assembled. And just like that, the daily search-and-sigh routine disappeared. Now we can easily see what we have, grab what we need, and put it away without the scavenger hunt.

Sometimes Shalom in the home is as simple as putting the lid on the container.

Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes, whatever works for you life today, and do a simple project that will bring some order...and the resulting peace...to your life.

simple recipe

CROCK POT STEAK BITES This easy recipe has become a favorite among my teen girls. They love it served over mashed potatoes. Or, add a little soy sauce with some sliced green bell peppers and serve it over coconut rice for an Asian flare. Or, add sliced mushrooms and serve over egg noodles for stroganoff. Ingredients (serves 8)

3-4 lbs stew meat (sirloin steak cut into 1" pieces)

1 cup beef broth

2 Tablespoons dried minced onion

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 Tablespoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon paprika

2 Tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder (thickener)

4 Tablespoons butter (sliced into little pats)

additional salt and pepper to taste

Directions Place the steak in the bottom of a crock pot. Cover with dry ingredients/spices then place the pats of butter on top. Pour the beef broth over the steak.

Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Thank you for following along. I hope you are enjoying the journey! If you are enjoying SIMPLE40, please share with a friend.

Click the link to sign up!

SIMPLE40