“Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7

Have you ever taken the time to really consider what this verse in the creation story really says? As we read through Genesis 1 and 2, we see how God created the Earth and all that is associated with it from an expanse of nothing. Every single element of creation tells us about the very essence of God. He did not simply let the dwelling place of His people be a mediocre place. He crafted every detail, every living creature, every drop of water in the seas, and every grain of sand in the desert. 

When it came to man, God took dust from the Earth that He lovingly created, breathed life into that dust, and formed man. That life God breathed into the dust to form Adam was not simply the basic functions of life. It was a soul. The very thing that makes humanity feel an all-consuming need to seek God. Living is not meant to be simply having a heartbeat and breathing. Living is meant to be dwelling with God eternally. 

So why would God do all of this for a humanity that He knew would reject Him? God’s reason for creation is relationship. Earth was created to be a place of complete Shalom for humanity. Earth was created to be the place where man and God walk in harmony together. Shalom does not simply mean peace as it is often defined. Shalom is a feeling of completeness or wholeness in every corner of a person’s being that is only possible in the very presence of God. When mankind committed the first sin, they shattered the possibility of Shalom. Jesus came to allow us to experience true Shalom for eternity. No wonder the devil seeks to take the wonder out of the creation story. A “big bang” explanation of creation removes God from the process of creation. It takes away the painstaking love and care God took with all creation, especially humanity, and makes it all a happy accident of random events. Without God, Shalom isn’t possible. The enemy doesn’t want Shalom; he seeks chaos and disorder. 

As I begin to prepare my heart for a new year, I have sought a word that signifies where I feel led to go in my walk with God this year. The word that He has given me is “rest.” 2025 was not a great year in our household in many ways. It had its positive moments, but it’s not a year that I would choose to repeat. However, throughout this year, God has strengthened my relationship with Him in more ways than I can begin to name. I am ending 2025 feeling closer to God and surer of my calling than ever before. As I enter 2026, I feel a call to learn to rest in the sureness of that calling. To stop striving and learn to truly rest in the presence of God. To learn the very essence of Shalom. Psalm 46:10 tells us to “Be still and know that I am God.” For me, that means to rest in the belief that Shalom is possible…to seek a place of relationship with God where I feel Shalom because I rest in knowing I am in His presence. I don’t know where 2026 will take me; however, I pray that wherever it goes, I will rest in the utter peace and contentment found only in the presence of God.

I also pray that for each of you taking the time to read this post. I pray that God will lead you to a place of Shalom that is only possible in His presence.