Day 12: Perfect Peace

By Dr. Robert C Crowder

Reading:

Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. ⁴ Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Reflection:

God makes a promise in Isaiah that seems almost too good to be true: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” The Hebrew phrase translated “perfect peace” is shalom shalom; peace doubled, peace multiplied, peace complete. This is not a fragile peace that depends on favorable circumstances or the temporary calm between storms. This is the settled, unshakable peace that comes from a mind anchored in God Himself. Centuries later, Paul echoes this truth with stunning clarity: “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The promise Isaiah declared, Paul experienced. The peace God offers through trust is not theoretical; it is real, supernatural, and available to every believer whose mind is fixed on Christ.

The key is focus. God promises to keep in perfect peace the one “whose mind is stayed” on Him. The Hebrew word samak means to lean upon, to rest upon, to be supported by. It carries the idea of something firmly established, propped up by a secure foundation. A mind stayed on God is not casually thinking about Him now and then. It is a mind consistently fixed, deliberately focused, habitually resting on His character, His promises, and His sovereignty.

This kind of focus does not happen accidentally. It requires intentionality. The psalmist declared, “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”[1] Paul commanded the church at Colossi, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”[2] The believer must choose again and again to redirect wandering thoughts back to God. When anxiety rises, we fix our minds on His faithfulness. When fear threatens, we rehearse His past deliverances. When the future looks uncertain, we anchor ourselves in His unchanging nature.

The phrase “because he trusteth in thee” lays bare the operational principle. Peace follows trust. When we trust God, a sense of peace washes over us. Trust says, “God is good, God is wise, God is powerful, and God is for me. Therefore, I can rest.” Distrust keeps the mind churning: “What if this happens? What if that fails? What if God doesn’t come through?” Trust silences those questions by remembering who God is and what He has done.

Isaiah follows the promise with a command: “Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” The name used for God is significant; Yah Yahweh, an intensive form emphasizing the eternality and covenant faithfulness of God. He is not merely strong; He is everlasting strength. He is the Rock of Ages, the unchanging foundation upon which every believer can safely build. Human strength fails. Physical energy is depleted. Mental fortitude collapses. But God’s strength endures forever, and those who trust in Him tap into an inexhaustible resource.

The world offers many substitutes for peace. Wealth promises security until the market crashes. Health promises stability until the diagnosis comes. Relationships promise comfort until they disappoint. Career promises significance until the job is gone. Every earthly source of peace is contingent, temporary, and ultimately unreliable. But the peace God gives does not fluctuate with circumstances because it does not rest on circumstances. It rests on the character of the One who rules over all circumstances.

Paul expands on this truth in Philippians 4:6–7: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Notice the progression: prayer replaces anxiety, thanksgiving accompanies petition, and peace guards the heart. The peace of God transcends human logic. It doesn’t make sense to the natural mind that a person facing genuine trouble could have deep peace. But this is supernatural peace, the “shalom shalom” of God, standing sentry over the believer’s heart.

If we allow Christ’s Word to fill our lives, contemplate His promises constantly, and acknowledge God’s presence in our everyday routine, serenity will naturally follow. It’s not about effort; it’s about resting in trust. The mind stayed on God, finds what it was created for: communion with the eternal, unshakable, all-sufficient One.

This Advent, let God’s promise settle deep into your soul. Fix your thoughts on Him. Rehearse His faithfulness. Trust His character. And let the “shalom shalom” of God; perfect peace, doubled and complete, guard your heart against every storm.

Prayer:

• Ask the Lord to fix your thoughts on Him today, and when your mind wanders to worry, pray that He would redirect it to His faithfulness.
• Pray that He will keep you in perfect peace as you trust in His everlasting strength.

Consider:

Write Isaiah 26:3 on a notecard and carry it with you throughout the day.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Every time anxiety, fear, or worry rises, pull out the card and read it slowly. Deliberately redirect your thoughts from the problem to God’s character. Ask yourself: “What attribute of God speaks to this concern?” and meditate on that truth.

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[1] Psalm 16:8

[2] Colossians 3:2