Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
In today’s verse, we find ourselves in the book of Isaiah. It comes from a passage in which the prophet Isaiah was encouraging the Israelites to have hope in the midst of coming destruction and political upheaval. His goal was to assure Judah that peace comes from God’s steady presence, not from a lack of difficulty and chaos.
He begins by speaking of perfect peace. Peace, we have already learned, is harmony, tranquility, and an inner calm, granted by God. But what is the term in the Hebrew language and why does Isaiah call it perfect peace? Can peace become MORE peaceful? Isn’t it peaceful already? No, it is not an oxymoron. Let’s explore that deeper.
The phrase perfect peace is translated from the Hebrew as shalom shalom. Yes, that is not a mistake. Shalom twice. In Hebrew, when a word is repeated it is emphasized or intensified. This was Isaiah’s way of saying that they would experience a peace that was beyond peaceful. It would be a complete, all-encompassing, uninterrupted peace that comes from God and is given to those who trust and follow Him.
Isaiah goes on to mention those who have a steadfast mind, or a mind that stays with God. This tells us that the battle one faces for obtaining peace begins in the mind. Our thoughts and focus guide us through our days. If we are not focusing on God, we are easily led astray and into chaos. But the mind that is steadfast through absolute trust in God is a mind that is governed by peace – and not just any peace, but perfect peace. When we lean on God instead of on ourselves, we experience His perfect peace.
This means that we need to shift our focus when it strays from Him and His goodness. When our mind starts to shift to the struggles you face, anxiety, uncertainty, or something worse, we lose our focus on God and what He wants for us. Instead we need to anchor our thoughts on God and meditate on His Word day and night. We must trust in His unchanging character and His absolute, supreme sovereignty. We are to take every thought captive and give it to God instead of dwelling on things we shouldn’t be focusing on.
Remember – the root of our peace comes not from the circumstances in which we find ourselves, but rather in the relationship with the One who grants peace. When we deepen our trust in God we rely on Him and not ourselves. We don’t rest on our understanding but exercise faith in God’s plan for our lives and His way of escape from circumstances.
On a final note – perfect peace does not mean we will escape all hardship or never experience trials again. We are told numerous times that we will not have an easy go of things in life. We will face hardship, persecution, and more. But the key is we face it with shalom deep in our hearts. We know we face whatever is to come with God at our side.
Today let’s spend a few moments taking thoughts captive and handing them to God. Identify the things that may be stealing your peace today and ask God to carry them for you. Ask Him to fill you with His perfect peace. He is waiting, ready to fill you with peace when you get your focus in the right place once more – on Him.
Prayer: Lord, I need Your perfect peace to govern my mind and heart. Help me to take thoughts captive and return my focus to You and Your will for my life so that I might be filled with Your peace. Amen
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