Perfect Peace
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26.3
One of the greatest longings of the human heart, and one of the most elusive qualities is peace. The baby isn’t satisfied even after he has had his bottle. The teenager isn’t satisfied even after finding freedom from the control of his parents. The young adult isn’t satisfied even after finding lucrative employment. And on the story goes.
I was once told that many problems arise in marriage because the man is more engaged in the pursuit of a wife than he is in growing a meaningful relationship. Being goal oriented, he tends to be happier while pursuing his goals than he is after he has obtained them. He engages in a never-ending lifestyle of pursuits hoping to find peace but often experiencing greater frustration and anxiety as he finds nothing worthy of his attention.
The Psalmist writes: “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” (Psalm 34.14) That injunction is nestled within a chapter which offers the answer for man’s longing for peace. This pursuit results in peace as we pursue a relationship with God. Again, the Psalmist exhorts the reader: “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Psalm 119.165) By focusing on the Law of God, as that which brings the believer into a proper alignment with the Almighty, the seeker finds more than unending possibilities in his pursuit; he finds the One who can satisfy each of his desires.
The word “keep” in the Hebrew and in the Greek carries the same thought. It indicates a careful attendance to a subject. As a guard watches over a prison cell – as a nanny watches over her infant charge – as a workman watches over the process – even so, our God carefully watches over those whose mind is focused on pleasing Him. (Isaiah 26.3) In order to find this “perfect peace,” (completed completion), one’s mind (thought process, imagination) must be stayed (to lean with one’s full weight) upon the only One who can satisfy.
Peace is a matter of focus. Even when it seems all around is failing, the one whose mind is stayed upon God (seeking to always align himself with the One who is able to save from any situation) will be at peace because he knows God is in control and can handle any situation.
We can have the peace of God: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4.7), because we have the God of peace: “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4.9)
Copyright © 2024 Dr. John H. Hill, All rights reserved.
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