Perfect peace sounds elusive, like a pleasant dream that we always hope to return to. But apparently “perfect peace” is truly attainable. And this sought-after peace is a place and not just a feeling.
Isaiah speaks of this: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You: because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3) It seems that perfect peace is found in a place, a spot right near the tender heart of God. Although I am not physically near God, I can mentally, emotionally, and spiritually stay close to Him. And the result? Peace!
If I wrote out the verse with all of its nuances and definitions, it might sound like this: “You (God) will keep (guard, blockade) him in perfect peace (health, prosperity, completeness, safety, soundness, tranquility, quiet, and contentment) whose mind is stayed (leaning on, resting on, supported by, refreshed, and revived) on You because he trusts in You.” (Strong’s Concordance/godrules.net)
Despite the promise of this verse, it seems as if life and the circumstances comprising it can so easily snatch our peace. The evening news can create panic and anxiety. Personal or family trauma can rob that peace. But I need to see the value of maintaining my peace by letting my mind be supported by and blockaded by God. He is peace. So, being near Him can refresh and revive my sense of peace, tranquility, and contentment. The world can swirl its chaos around me, but my mind, if stayed on God, can be rested by His ability to grant peace.
So, it looks as if perfect peace is an achievable reality and maintaining it is a possibility. May I focus my mind on God and His capacity to lend me His peace on a continuous basis.
