“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.” – Isaiah 26:3-4
What is your peace-o-meter reading today? You’re familiar with those guys who work for the electric company who randomly show up at your house to read your electric meter. If God could read your meter, what would your peace-o-meter be reading today?
As I was driving home, I merged to the right hand lane to pass a truck. As I did so, a car in the far right lane merged left into the lane I was merging. I had to hit the brakes not to rear end the car. I could see that I startled the driver, so much so that he gave me the finger in his rear view mirror. I merged into the left lane to pass him and as I did so, he adamantly expressed his displeasure, emphatically giving me the finger. I wonder what his peace-o-meter was reading…
The prophet Isaiah is praying to God during turbulent times. His king, King Ahaz, has turned to the king of Assyria for assistance rather than turning to God for help, which ultimately leads to the exile of Judah into Babylon. But Isaiah is not rattled, his peace-o-meter is quite high- because by trusting in the Lord, it yields a settled purpose, “a steadfast mind.” A steadfast mind is one set on the purpose of pleasing God. Many times we encounter turbulence because we expend so much energy in seeking solutions apart from God.
But a “steadfast mind” is one God keeps for us, “You will keep in perfect peace.” The perfect peace is God’s “shalom.” This perfection is both in quantity and quality. Paul said the same thing in the NT, “let the peace of God which transcends all understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6). How many of you are experiencing the perfect peace of God or are you trying to fabricate your own peace through cheap imitations?
Isaiah then exhorts all to do the same- “Trust in the LORD!” And why? Because as our circumstances change so will the cheap things we try to find refuge. Everything changes. Possessions fade away, people disappoint and die… as Peter said, “Man is like the grass, the glory of man is like the flower of the grass, the flower falls off and the grass withers but the Word of the Lord abides forever.” (1 Peter 1:24-25) But the One who keeps our peace, He is eternal, He is our Rock!
There is a story of Martin Luther, while going through a period of discouragement, would day after day bring his long face to the dinner table. One day his wife wore a black dress as if she was going to a funeral. He asked her, “Who died?” She replied, “Martin, as you have been behaving, I thought God had died, so I prepared myself to attend His funeral.” Her rebuke drove right through his heart. The great reformer decided that he would never allow his worldly care, discouragement or frustration to ever defeat him. By God’s grace he would vow to submit his life to his Savior and reflect the grace of God in a spirit of rejoicing always.
When was the last time you rejoiced God in a time of despair? Has someone replaced God from His throne? Then why let life beat you down? The LORD is our Rock and He is the keeper of our perfect peace. Trust in Him today. What is your peace-o-meter reading today?
May God bless you in your rejoicing of the victory we have in His Son!!!
Pastor Sung