You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3
We live in a world that is filled with worrywarts. People start and end their days locked up in fear over what might happen. When worrying becomes excessive, it may lead us to feelings of high anxiety and could even cause us to be physically ill. To relieve this type of stress, people can turn to harmful lifestyle habits like overeating, drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. God didn't intend for us to live in the grips of worry, but instead gave us a path to peace.
God is willing and able to help us overcome our worries. Isaiah, the prophet, gives a picture of this path to overcome fear and anxiety. He shares with the people that God has the power to keep them in "perfect peace." That sounds amazing and elusive at the same time. Perfect peace looks like a person that isn't overwhelmed by their surroundings but is calm and centered no matter what. But how often have any of us experienced that "perfect peace"? Peace seems to come and go. Peace seems to be entirely dependent upon our own circumstances. Interestingly though, here in this Scripture, Isaiah describes a path to peace. He says that God will keep us in perfect peace when we put our trust in Him.
The path that Isaiah lays out is important. On our own it is impossible for any of us to experience peace without God's help. He is the giver of peace and the peacekeeper. This happens when we put our trust in Him. We have to trust that He has a plan for our lives and that He is in control. When we stop taking matters into our own hands, and we start to release things to God, He frees us from the grips of worries. Isaiah knew though that trusting God wasn't enough to calm all of our fears. He knew that the only way we were going to beat worry back was by fixing our thoughts and minds on God. When we get caught up in the "what if" questions in our mind of what might happen, we have to refocus our thoughts on God. We have to remind ourselves of the truths of His Word and how He has He helped us in the past. When we trust God and fix our minds on Him, we arrive at perfect peace.
God's peace can overcome every problem that you encounter.
What are some worries that you are currently facing right now? Take some time in the space below to journal and to air out any concerns or troubles that you have. Then after you have identified them, choose to trust God to help you through your difficulties. Pray that God will give you His perfect peace and ask Him to keep your mind focused in the midst of the storm.
Read Isaiah 26:1-15 (NLT)
In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song:
Our city is strong! We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation.Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter.You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.He humbles the proud and brings down the arrogant city. He brings it down to the dust.The poor and oppressed trample it underfoot, and the needy walk all over it.
But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough.You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them.Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you.For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right.Your kindness to the wicked does not make them do good.Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrong and take no notice of the Lord’s majesty.O Lord, they pay no attention to your upraised fist. Show them your eagerness to defend your people.Then they will be ashamed. Let your fire consume your enemies.
Lord, you will grant us peace; all we have accomplished is really from you.O Lord our God, others have ruled us, but you alone are the one we worship.Those we served before are dead and gone. Their departed spirits will never return!You attacked them and destroyed them, and they are long forgotten.O Lord, you have made our nation great; yes, you have made us great.You have extended our borders, and we give you the glory!
©2024 Sagebrush Church
