“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26 v 3
It’s
nothing new to say that we live in troubled times. It seems that we are always
talking about the bad things that happen to us, how then can we remain peaceful
and remember to also focus on the good things? How can we find peace?
If it
was a simple matter surely everybody would be doing it, right? Maybe it is an
easy thing to do after all but not many people believe it because it is so
simple. Because we live in such a complex world we have a tendency to have an
aversion to the straightforward things in life. Simple solutions become suspect
amidst the chaos and speed of everyday life.
However,
I have found that getting back to basics has a lot of positive results.
One of
my favourite verses in the whole bible is found in Isa 26 v 3, it states,
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he
trusteth in thee.” This verse has kept me strong through so many tense and
worrying situations. I have sometimes used it in a chant-like manner to remind
myself that peace is guaranteed to me. It has worked.
So, how could this work for other people. I’m not suggesting
that everyone goes around chanting the same verses over and over, what I am
saying, and this is something that has worked for me, is that whenever possible
it has been a good idea for me to think about God, His goodness, His
provisions, His love and His promises.
Does that sound too simplistic? On one hand it could sound
like a formula for robotic behaviour, but this would never be possible because
each person is unique with their thoughts. So, how could thinking about the
same subject, God, help to ensure a state of peaceful living? I ask this
because so many people believe in God, but as many people as there are believing
there are also that many interpretations of God’s will. How can that lead to a
state of peacefulness?
The answers are, I think, in the Bible. Heb 12 v 14 states, “Follow
peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God.” By
loving each person we meet and wishing the best for them - as we would for
ourselves - I think we will each be on the path towards wider peaceful living.
What about when we feel guilty regarding something? How do
we find peace then? Rom 5 v 1 says, “Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Consequently faith and peace appear to be linked. We have to believe that our
guilt – be it real or imagined – is taken away from us. As we follow this road
of belief we relax in the comfort of peaceful reassurance because we gain a
sense of rightness.
Isa 32 v 17 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace;
and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” From the
beginning of peace we can follow the route to eternal assurance and quietness
of mind. That sounds blissful. That sounds possible. It is.
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me
ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulations: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16 v 33) Therefore it is clear that we
can still have a deep experience of peace while facing trials and tribulations
each day. We are guaranteed that peaceful mind because it is a gift from God.
Jesus knows that when we are connected to Him and focussed
on Him we will gain the peace we search for, we will overcome the troubles of
the times that we inhabit. He has promised to give us peace, and His promises
never fail.
©MHMorgan 2011
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