Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3
In our study last week, we saw that the peace of God means much more than the redemptive work of Christ. No one can experience genuine peace until they have first been reconciled to God. The restored relationship between God and man, made possible by the death and resurrection of Christ, is necessary
as the foundation on which our peace rests. But this relationship only makes inner peace possible. It prepares the foundation, but is not the final structure; it provides the possibility, but does not guarantee actual, inner peace. The task of acquiring peace is ours.
The Apostle Paul said, " . . . I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.
Philippians 4:11
The Apostle Paul’s conversion experience was certainly more dramatic than the experience of most believers. His life of dedicated Christian service was instrumental in establishing churches around the Mediterranean world. The Holy Spirit used this man to pen the bulk of the New Testament. He was caught up to the third heaven where he saw things he was forbidden to write. The Lord gave him repeated assurances that his work was well-pleasing and honorable. Yet, at the end of his productive life, while imprisoned in Rome, Paul writes that he has "learned" to be content.
If contentment had to be learned by Paul, can we expect to have peace without learning it? Paul told the Colossians to "let the peace of God rule in your hearts" Colossians 3:15. This must lead us to the inevitable conclusion that peace does not come naturally to the Christian. If it must be learned, then it may also not be learned. If it must be allowed to rule in our hearts, it may also not be allowed to rule in our hearts.
As in acquiring any other skill or spiritual grace, peace must first be seen as possible, then desired. It must then be understood, then sought, and finally diligently practiced and exercised. If you desire peace, it is available; but it is not cheap, nor is it easily obtained.
Before we talk of how to acquire peace, we should understand that we are not referring to certain common substitutes for genuine peace. The world (and many in Christian circles) talk of positive thinking (Christians call this a positive confession.) But the peace that we are attempting to understand is not positive thinking. Christians must never refuse to admit facts, avoid reality, or suppress truth. We are certainly not to see our circumstances as crushing weights heaped upon us by a cruel fate. In fact, we are expressly commanded to rejoice in every situation. But sickness must not be called health nor poverty wealth. We must acknowledge that we will always have poor among us and that it is the common lot of all men once to die, and death is sometimes preceded by illness. These remain among the consequences of sin. While we have been saved, we have not been ultimately delivered. Even the very earth groans under the curse of sin. If we could realize all the benefits of Heaven while here on earth, we would have little desire to leave here and go there. But, even though this earth is no substitute for the glories of our eternal future, the peace available to God’s people is such that they can be genuinely content here and now.
Also, we are not referring to the sense of outward calm that some people have quite naturally. Some individuals are just not easily excitable. That may be an admirable trait, but it is no substitute for the peace of God within. Outward calm may sometimes be a clue to the attitude within, but to judge by appearances may also be very deceiving. In this, as in all other spiritual matters, we must bear in mind that God looks on the heart while we can only observe the outward appearance with our limited vision.
We are also not referring here to an attitude of stoicism. A resignation to fatalism is also a learned attitude, but it is a poor substitute for the peace spoken of by the Bible. "Boy, I’m glad that’s over," may be an appropriate response about a visit to the dentist; but it is not the heart-felt response of one who is attuned to the purpose of God. Rather, the mature Christian is one who can genuinely give thanks in everything, not just rejoice that hard times are past.
The peace we are contemplating in this study is a calm and quiet spirit; a tranquil and undisturbed attitude that prevails in spite of or, perhaps, because of the challenges of life. The peaceful mind and spirit is not disturbed by the tempests of life; but, like the ocean depths, remains calm though the surface is in turmoil. Genuine peace remains stedfast when confronted with unlovely facts. It transcends the natural calm of the placid individual, and it is more vibrant than the resigned acceptance of the stoic. The peace of God is at once honest, yet content; assured, but eager; quiet, but strong. God’s desire for Israel is the available reality for us: "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" (Isaiah 30:15).
I have stated five stages or steps through which any person must progress in order to gain this peace. First, one must recognize the existence of, or possibility of acquiring, peace. Second, peace must be desired. Next, there must be some understanding of peace and how to attain it. Following that understanding, there must be an actual pursuit of the goal. Finally, peace, like any other worthwhile attainment, must be practiced.
Few men pursue what they do not believe exists; but given the barest evidence or the vaguest dream, men will eagerly die for the joy of pursuit though their goal is never realized. Many are the men who have gone to their deaths seeking some supposed treasure, some sunken gold or buried jewel. Desoto sought the fountain of youth; Columbus a shorter route to the treasures of the East. With only hope as their motivation, these explorers pursued dreams they never realized. Though they achieved other distinctions, their goals remained only dreams.
Before you or I can acquire peace, we must believe that peace is possible. Fortunately, we need not seek the world over to find out if it in fact exists before we even begin seeking it; we need only turn to God’s infallible guide for our Christian walk. To the disciples, Jesus himself said: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you" (John 14:27). This authoritative statement should quiet any doubt as to the possibility of peace. But again I remind you that almost every epistle of the New Testament contains a prayer that the hearers would experience and grow in the peace of God. Paul told the Philippian Christians that, certain conditions being met, " . . . the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).
To acknowledge peace as an available reality for the Christian is not the same as desiring peace. Believers often, like multitudes who knowingly reject the Gospel, recognize clearly God’s provision but reject available grace as being too costly. Believing that "nothing good in life is free" (certainly a valid assessment), many reject the peace of God as unworthy the time and effort needed to attain it.
Since our desire for anything is either magnified or tempered by such factors as availability, cost, effort required, and usefulness, we should examine the remaining prerequisites for peace before judging the depth and extent of our desire for peace.
The third step in achieving the peace that is available to all Believers is to understand (or at least begin learning) all that we can know about that peace. Here we must depart from the systematic steps to achieving peace and examine peace itself. Our study last week was an introduction to the substantive subject of peace, but I wish to call our attention to three other aspects of inner peace. Our text from Isaiah is an excellent summation of Biblical Truth concerning peace.
First, we must recognize the source of that peace. Genuine peace within does not come from within; it comes only from God.
Isaiah said, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace" (Isaiah 26:3). The active party in Isaiah’s statement is God; the "him" is only a passive recipient of peace.
Peace cannot be purchased, captured, stolen, or taken. It can only be received. While it can be acquired, it cannot be demanded. Though God delights in giving it, He cannot be coerced. In order to receive the peace of God, we must meet whatever conditions God sets forth as necessary to receive it.
Understanding this first simple truth, then, that genuine peace is not within us, but is simply received from God; we are brought to consider the second portion of Isaiah’s statement:
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3
We must have our mind stayed on God. We must establish God as our central thought; as the premise from which all our other thoughts begin, and the end toward which all our other thoughts lead. God should be our first thought and our last thought in every situation. "What is God doing; how is God working; how must I respond to God in this matter?" Pleasing God should be our principle goal; and whether or not we have pleased Him should be the final test of all our actions.
Until we focus our attention on God and somehow bring our thoughts and desires into harmony with His thoughts and desires, we can never know peace. But when we learn that we receive peace simply as the result of thinking the thoughts of God, by having the same desires as God, and working toward the same aims as God, then we will be excited and motivated to think God’s thoughts and develop God’s desires.
The Psalmist repeatedly used the word "fixed" to describe this attitude:
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
Psalm 57:7
O GOD, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
Psalm 108:1
A good man . . . shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid.
Psalm 112:7,8
Other translations use the word "stedfast" in these verses, showing the constant and unwavering attitude of the heart.
This brings us to a final consideration. In order to have a mind permanently fixed on God, we must have absolute confidence in God. The more we learn to trust our God, the more we fix our thoughts stedfastly on Him. And the more we think on Him, the more we learn to trust.
Just as Paul learned contentment, so we must learn trust. When we absolutely trust God, He grants peace. Having the peace of God in our hearts is simply seeing all circumstances as God’s loving best for us and all our needs as opportunities to trust His provision. The measure of our peace is the measure of our trust.
Peace is not crisis intervention. One does not come to peace by quickly running to God in times of crisis. Such a fickle approach to God or selfish striving for peace will only disappoint. Desperate hope is not the same as unwavering confidence. No one who seeks from the Lord in a doubting or haphazard way will receive what he desires (James 1:6-8), but the one who is constantly "fixed" on the Lord will have abiding, unshakeable peace.
How can we constantly be fixed on the Lord; or have a mind stayed on God? Is it not because we have absolute confidence in Him? Is it not because we trust Him? Certainly we trust God in a general sense. We know that He has delivered us from the eternal consequences of Hell and given us a promise of Heaven in the future. We know that, somehow, all of history is going to end with justice having been done and that ultimately God will be victorious. We even believe that God knows all that will happen in the future and innumerable insignificant details such as the number of hairs on our head. But do we trust Him with the details? Are we confident that God is using the events of our lives to work out His eternal purpose?
Our text tells us that the one whose mind is constantly on the Lord will have perfect peace "because he trusteth in thee." But this trust, or confidence, is not the general belief that God knows all and has all power. What is in view here is the assurance that God is directly benefitting an individual with all His wisdom and power. He is not a God up there somewhere, but He is a God close beside me. He is not a God with a general plan for all ages, but a God with a specific purpose for the minute details of my life.
Equipped now with an understanding of the peace of God, we are finally ready for the last two steps in attaining God’s peace. The first of these is to seek peace. However, we now understand that peace is not directly attainable, but that we must fix ourselves on God in order to receive peace. We must decide, by an act of our will, that we are going to think God’s thoughts, understand His ways, reflect His desires, and delight in His methods. As carnal men, we must acknowledge that our natural and spontaneous thoughts are not His thoughts, and that our habitual ways are not His ways. Because God’s ways and thoughts are much higher than ours, we must diligently seek His ways and learn His thoughts.
If our goal is to have the peace of God, it will require purposeful pursuit of God Himself. It will mean regular, consistent time in His Word, and time in prayer that is genuine communion with the Father. It will require time with mature Christians who are examples of Godly principles. It will require meditation in Scripture, and consecrated service for the Lord.
Finally, peace requires practice. Practice entails two things: opportunities and diligence. God provides our opportunities to practice peace by sending us circumstances calculated to test our peace. We should anticipate these opportunities and thank Him for them. The test is usually consistent with our spiritual grade level and some indication of God’s assessment of our ability to exercise confidence in Him. But God dislikes failures. We may fail a test, but God, who is rich in mercy, will continue to give us opportunities to pass.
The second requirement for meaningful practice is diligence. Any skill that we practice only irregularly or haphazardly quickly brings frustration. We would be much better off to never begin learning something than to work at it only half-heartedly. Half-heartedness only brings frustration, feelings of failure, and discouragement. So, having begun to desire peace, let us make a commitment to diligently pursue it. Practice. Practice regularly.
In the darkest hour of any trial, regardless of the seemingly overwhelming difficulties of any situation, we can trust God. If we practice trusting Him with the almost insignificant details of our lives, it will be much less difficult to trust Him when all appears lost. Sometimes we will waiver in our confidence, sometimes falter in our trust. But practice, by its very nature, means repeating the areas of difficulty until first hope is formed, then confidence attained.
Consciously make yourself praise God. Thank Him for every blessing, no matter how small. Name His benefits; focus on His grace. Listen to David’s demands to himself; his imperative to his own soul:
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
Psalm 103:1-6
Have you ever seen an advertisement that caught your attention, not because of the product for sale, but because of the free bonus? For instance, I might see a computer advertised for $499, and a printer is offered as a free bonus in the bargain. I need and want the printer, but don’t really want the computer. So I go to the store and say to the salesperson, "I saw your sales advertisement, but I only want the printer that comes with your computer. How much is the printer?" The salesman might reply, "$499." "But that’s the price of the computer, with the printer thrown in. I only want the printer." "But you don’t understand. The printer is not for sale. The computer sells for $499. If you buy it, you get the printer whether you want it or not; but you can’t have the printer unless you buy the computer."
In conclusion then, how does one have peace? Peace, like every other Christian grace, is not available to those who seek it. It is only available to those who seek the One who can give peace. It is a benefit that necessarily follows an intimate relationship, through prayer and meditation, consecration and service, with Jesus Christ. It is not available unless you take the package. But when you take the package, it is included whether you want it or not.
Once again, we find ourselves measuring our relationship with Christ. Do you lack peace? Are you less than confident that God is only doing good in your behalf? Do you sometimes wish He would leave you alone, and give you the opportunity to do as you please? Then you probably don’t know God with the intimacy that Paul did, enabling him to write:
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! . . . For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Romans 11:33,36
Those around the throne of the Lamb in Heaven have no difficulty trusting the Lord. Listen to their song of praise and confidence:
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation 4:11
Then they are joined with all the heavenly hosts:
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Revelation 5:12
Our lack of peace is an indication of our lack of relationship with the One who bestows peace. The measure of our unrest is the measure of need in our relationship. May we each understand our need and determine to attain the peace of God.
mp 8/9/87