Peace

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Maybe peace can best be measured by the lack of it. I don’t think I’m alone in understanding the turmoil of worry or even despair when situations around me appear bleak, but as a consequence of experiencing a lack of peace at times (or even anxiety), I recognize peace when it comes. This peace is expressed in the song of rejoicing in Isaiah 26:3: “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace because he trusts in You” (NASB). I see three key things in this verse and in the ones that immediately preface it.
1.      This person has a steadfast mind—he or she is faithful and 
       focused on God.
2.      God is the one doing the keeping—not the person in his or her own strength.
3.      The person fully trusts in God.
Peace comes from knowing God and surrendering to His will. When I feel myself becoming anxious (or lacking peace), I am learning to turn to His word for an infusion of peace that nothing and no one in this world can provide. Simply focusing on Him settles and encourages me. When God speaks to Israel in Isaiah 40:28-29, I can feel my heart swell with His peace:
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not grow weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.”
What in the world could possibly be big enough to overcome the purposes and intents of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? He never lacks for anything I need and is never weary of my failures. He totally gets me, but He will never reject me. Absolutely nothing can separate me from Him—even though at times things seem pretty big and complicated (Rom. 8:35). My past floundering around in the absence of His peace has tended to make me pretty miserable at times, but it has served the purpose of illuminating what true peace is when it comes. With this last thought, I rest: “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.” Peace.

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