Perfect Peace (Isaiah 26:3)

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3

The past few weeks, I feel as though my mind has been cluttered and chaotic. Between working, trying to do school work and wedding planning, it seems hard to focus my mind on accomplishing any one task because there are so many others to do.

While reflecting on this last night, the Lord called to my mind Isaiah 26:3, which says, "the steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You." In the ESV, it reads, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you" (emphasis mine). There are three aspects of this verse that struck me:

perfect peace

for those whose mind is stayed on the Lord

because of their trust in the Lord 

Perfect peace is only available when our minds are focused and stayed on the Lord. Furthermore, when our minds are cluttered and chaotic (not in perfect peace), it is a lack of trust in the Lord. A proper trust in the Lord will provide proper perspective which will lead to perfect peace. When worry, anxiety and chaos are marking our lives, it is a result of not thinking rightly about the Lord and not finding full dependence on Him. In the midst of any stressful circumstance, chaos or hardship, perfect peace is available when we "set our minds on things above, not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2).

Today, may we strive to fix our eyes (and minds) on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). May we resolve to keep our minds "stayed" on the Lord, placing our trust in Him. May we thank Him for His offer of perfect peace and look solely to Him to provide it.