He Is My Peace

    God has made Himself known to us!

If you have taken nothing more from this brief article, please embrace this one truth. Our lives can be filled with great struggles, and there can seem to be from time to time, a lack of understanding shown toward us, by those whom we expect to know us the best, including our God. You surely have experienced uncertainty in your personal life. If you found peace, how did you do that? Was the circumstance removed which brought the uncertainty? Man requires this in order to obtain peace in one’s life. Yet with God, this is not so. Storms do not have to be ceased, calamities of life do not have to be eradicated, sorrows and hurts do not have to be extinguished in order for one’s heart and soul to possess peace, know peace, and find the comfort of peace which is of God.

Of all that men seek and desire, want and wish for, peace in one’s life is sought more readily than any other aspect one could conceive. Yet, given the pursuit of peace, it still seems to be the one thing which alludes men the most in their lives. Some may seek peace in possessions, but sadly the Lord would call these souls, “fools” (Luke 12:20). Some may seek peace by insisting others never offend them. In their pursuit, they never truly find peace (Romans 12:18). Peace is greatly desired, but possessing it is different than simply desiring.

Isaiah made Judah a promise. There would come a day when Judah would sing a song throughout their land, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).  This song was to come to Judah during a time when they may have felt like doing anything besides singing.  Isaiah tells Judah of the song which will come, after their captivity has ended, and after their lives are thrown into chaos. “The land shall be entirely emptied and utterly plundered, for the Lord has spoken this word” (Isaiah 24:3). Only God could send a promise of peace in the midst of chaos.  Notice the unique location of this peace which God would send. This peace did not rest in the emotional core of man. This peace did not make its home in the physical core of man.  Peace did not come as a result of no experience of pain, the absence of conflict, or the presence of trial. The peace which God would send came as a result of a fixed and settled mind.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). The reason the survivors of captivity could sing, the reason they had to rejoice, was found exclusively in their mind being fixated, consumed, settled, anchored, and stayed on God, the God of peace, the God of strength, the God of refuge, the God of creation, the God who is the Most High.  When our minds are stayed on God, there is a focus. This does not mean we will never again be subject to the threat of worry, or the trouble of anxiety. In fact, just the opposite is true. For those who are burdened heavily by the worries, anxieties, fears, and guilt of life, they now have an anchor, a guide, and a compass, securely pulling them back to focus, God. God establishes peace in His children by reminding them of His power, His control, and the work He accomplishes through His providence and love. “Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us” (Isaiah 26:12). Worry, fear, troubles, and pain need not consume us, when our lives are consumed with the guidance of our God through His revealed will, His presence in prayer, and His compassion by His people. Who is God? He is our peace.               Eric