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When Shalom shatters, we feel it deep in our bones.
Our hearts break. Grief rises. Hope can feel out of reach.
In my own story — through the loss of my mother to suicide, through the addictions I once clung to, and even in my struggles with rage — I’ve known the kind of breaking that makes you wonder if restoration is even possible.
What does it even mean to get to “the other side”? And is that kind of restoration only waiting for us in heaven?
Here’s the truth I’ve come to know:
While full restoration will only come in eternity, God does offer Shalom now-in part, and in powerful ways.
Galatians reminds us that the fruit of the Spirit is our inheritance now. The abundant life Jesus promised isn’t something we have to wait for. It begins here.
But how?
Through Scripture, I’ve found six steps that God consistently lays out—a path toward Shalom restored:
1. Come Honestly Before God
Restoration doesn’t begin with fixing. It begins with honesty. Not pretending, not striving—just coming as we are.
2. Name What’s Been Broken
We can’t heal what we won’t name. The shattered pieces—of our relationships, our choices, or our stories—need to be acknowledged, not hidden or managed.
3. Grieve in Connection
Grief is not weakness. It’s a sacred, necessary part of healing. But it must happen in connection—to God, to others, and to yourself.
4. Move Toward Repentance
Not for the harm done to you—but for the ways you may have responded in pain: the patterns, coping, or numbing that kept you stuck. Repentance simply means turning back home.
5. Cultivate Gratitude & Goodness
As we begin to see our stories through God’s eyes, we notice—He was there. Even in the pain. And that goodness births a supernatural gratitude.
6. Step into Forgiveness & Calling
Forgiveness isn’t forgetting. It’s releasing. And when we release what bound us, we step into the calling we were meant for. We get to bring hope to others in the very places we were harmed.
Shalom restored isn't a fantasy. It's not wishful thinking or blind optimism. It's a spirit-led, body-honoring, step-by-step movement toward wholeness.
But it requires something from us. It requires engagement. Partnership with God. A willingness to do the brave work of healing.
So, if your heart feels shattered—please don’t stay stuck there.
You don’t have to wait.
You can begin today.
Shalom can be restored.
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