Perfect Peace

“You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.” (Isaiah 26:3 HCSB)  “Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, for he trusteth in Thee.” (KJV)

            Perfect peace.  Who wouldn’t want that as a characteristic of his or her life?  It sounds wonderful.  To be a “Rock of Gibraltar” in a world of turbulence has genuine appeal.  But is it attainable in a real world?  Perfect peace is an absolute concept, and absolutes are not all that common.

            Peter had a moment of perfect peace.  He climbed out of a boat onto a rolling sea and walked on the water toward Jesus, but that moment left quickly when he took his eyes off of Jesus and saw the wind and the waves.  It was more than just a sinking feeling.

            Isaiah says that perfect peace is a mind dependent on the Lord, one that is stayed or fixed unwaveringly on the Lord.  A mind that depends on the Lord is one that trusts continually in Him.  Perfect peace is thus a product of perfect trust.  Such trust is not hot and cold, or hit and miss.  It is constant and consistent.

            But is it attainable?  Well, it wasn’t for Peter, other than for a moment, and it may not be 100% attainable for us, but it is approachable.  Like many of our goals, we work toward them.  With some goals the best we can do is to get close to achieving them.  Maybe perfect peace through trust should be our goal, and the strength of our trust in God will thus determine how close we will get to it.

Father, You are the Author of peace, and with You it is a perfect peace.  Help us today to find the strength for trust fully in You. Guide us as we move toward this goal daily.  Amen