Life may seem chaotic at times and peace of mind may seem elusive. So how do we experience peace of mind in the midst of the storm? The prophet Isaiah lived in a time that was characterized by uncertainty and significant danger to his country. Isaiah fearlessly prophesied God’s warning to his people, but he also delivered God’s perspective of hope in the midst of uncertainty,

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

What does it mean to have a steadfast mind? A steadfast mind demonstrates a confident trust in God. The opposite is portrayed by the Apostle James as a double-minded man who is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). That leads to the question, “How do I develop a confident trust in God?” The Apostle Paul gives us the answer,

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

As you read the written word of God, you will discover the living Word of God – Jesus. Pastor A.W. Tozer writes,  “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” What you believe about God affects your attitude and beliefs about life. A large number of people have a view of God that is too small. If you have a small view of God, you will tend to maintain control because you’re not sure you can trust Him. When you have a view of a big God, you live with confidence knowing that God is in control and you can trust Him with your life. The Psalmist reveals the importance of knowing His word and experiencing His peace,

Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble. (Psalm 119:165)

The benefit of having a steadfast mind is experiencing God’s perfect peace. The phrase “perfect peace” is the Hebrew word shalom and it is synonymous with the concepts of completeness, genuineness, and contentment. Shalom is not simply the absence of hostility but it is the presence of God’s peace.

The heartfelt cry among many people is “How can I find peace in a world that seems so chaotic?” As you deepen your knowledge of God, you will come to experience His perfect peace. You will discover that as you come to know God, you will learn to trust Him. This requires humility on your part – if you don’t think you need God, then you won’t have a desire to know Him. The fundamental meaning of humility is learning to trust God and others with yourself. Humility enables you to think less about yourself and more about God. As Isaiah focused his attention on God, He viewed God as an everlasting Rock upon whom he could place his trust,

Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock. (Isaiah 26:4)

May you experience God’s perfect peace as you faithfully follow Him!

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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