Personal peace is all too rare in today’s world. The news cycles seem to contain only bad news, a pandemic keeps us from our treasured relationships, and there is plenty to cause us anxiety and concern. It seems that the world is more divided than ever. There are racial divides, political divides, family divides, relational divides and even church divides. All of these can be thieves of our personal peace which we long to have in our souls. No amount of money or success can purchase peace. Think for a moment on what is robbing you of peace today. 

The prophet Isaiah recognized the lack of peace in his own day where the social issues were about as complicated as in our day. But he also recognized that our source of peace - our Lord - is the only one who can grant us the peace of heart and soul that we yearn for. Here is what he says: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:3-4.

There is a source of peace. But it is not us. It is not our monetary security. It is not that we are somehow immune from the issues we deal with. It is a gift from God that is given to us under certain conditions.

That peace is ours when our mind is steadfast because we trust in Him. A steadfast mind is one that is absolutely committed to following Him in our lives. A steadfast mind is one that is single minded, unflinching, faithful, and resolute toward God. There is no wavering or compromise. A steadfast mind is one that trusts in God completely, which not only leads to peace but to “perfect peace.”

To emphasize the point of trust, Isaiah says, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.” The key to life is trust in God. He is secure, immovable, and unchanging which is why He is called the Rock eternal. He is the Rock that we can count on always, today, tomorrow and forever.

We often lack peace because our mind is on the wrong things. We are trying to fix things that we cannot fix and deal with situations that we cannot resolve. Perfect peace comes from fixing our eyes and minds on God, not on ourselves or others. That peace does not mean the situation has been fixed. It means that we have reminded ourselves that if we walk in His ways and trust the Eternal Rock, we can trust him to resolve what He wants to resolve in His way and His time. I can give the issues to Him and leave it with Him. Once I give my anxiety to Him, I am left with His perfect peace.

Father, I want perfect peace in the midst of a messed up world and all the things that I am prone to worry about and fix. Help me to be steadfast in my obedience to you and trust you as the Rock eternal of my life. Today, I give you those things that rob me of peace and ask that as I transfer those things to you that you will replace them with perfect peace. Amen.