You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. -Isaiah 26:3
Have you ever considered the fact that your inner peace is something that has to be protected? It is not something that comes naturally. In fact, Jesus warned us in John 16:33 that we should expect tribulation from the world in which we have to live. He did not say you might have problems. “You will have tribulation”, he says. In other words, peace is something that has to be cultivated and protected because the world is doing everything within its power to steal it from us.
If the last year of the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that what Jesus said in that passage is true. The world is not our friend. Even when it seems to be, it is an illusion that will ultimately leave us wanting and frustrated. Life can change in an instant and we have very little control, if any over it. Yet in this reality, we must also remember that in that same verse where Jesus warns us that the world will bring us troubles, he also tells us to remember that He has overcome the world. There are countless verses where we are given promises of peace. So living in Christ, we too can know the peace of mind and heart that is in Jesus. It is what he desires for each of us.
The peace of which I am speaking, the peace I believe Christ offers, is not a peace that shields us from all the tribulations of the world. It is a peace that we can enjoy amid those tribulations. It is what I’ve witnessed countless times in the hearts and faces of many a saint, in the throes of their greatest struggles. I’ve seen it in a deathbed smile or heard it in the voice of that cancer patient waiting their next chemo treatment. I’ve been amazed by it the confidence of that prodigal’s parent as their face lights up thinking of the hopeful return of their still lost child. It can be a reality for each of us even in the darkest of times. I say this from experience.
So what does that mean for us? Well, consider the truth so far. We live in a world that is actively trying to keep us in a state of emotional upheaval. There are spiritual forces at work trying to steal our peace and joy. But we also have the promise of peace that comes with communion with Christ. It is there. It is real. It is from him and through him we receive this peace. So how do we regularly experience the peace that passes understanding? How do we protect the peace God has placed in our hearts?
1. We must be intentional.
All too often we just expect spiritual breakthroughs to happen. We think that because they come from God, then it's all up to him to make them happen. But notice Isaiah 26:3. It says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” Yes, it does say “You” meaning God, keeps him in peace. It is from God. But it also gives the requirement that the recipient must keep his mind stayed on God and that he must trust in God. Intentional commitment and attention are the prerequisites. We must believe that God gives peace and that God is peace. True belief in this will influence our choices. Of this, we cannot drop our guard. Instead, we must fill our hearts and minds with the things of God to strengthen our beliefs. We must replace the lies of the world with the truth of God. This means prayer, scripture, study, worship, and devotion. We must set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:2).
I know from my own experience; it is almost predictable. I can fully expect emotional distress to occur in times of personal and spiritual neglect. At first glance, it might seem that spiritual neglect occurs as a result of busy and stressful times and the accompanying lack of personal peace. But I think it is the other way around. I think the lack of peace and emotional distress is the result of neglecting times of prayer and devotion. You can be busy and still have peace, but you cannot have peace without open communication with God. At best, it is a circle, and probably best to not try to fully explain it, other than to say that the more time we spend with the Lord and in doing the things of the Lord, the more peace we experience. So, we must protect our time and our personal spiritual disciplines. We cannot just expect personal communion to happen. We must make it happen. There is always something else the world would have us do. We must be intentional and choose time with God in work and worship. This brings me to my second point.
2. We must try to rid ourselves of known distractions by establishing proper boundaries.
They are going to happen. Sometimes they come in the form of busyness or work. Sometimes it can be something as simple as a television or computer. However, sometimes the peace stealer can come in the form of a person, which is not so easy to turn off and definitely not as simple to walk away from as these other peace wreckers. Perhaps, it is even a person we love. This is where we must be especially diligent. Sometimes it means removing certain dramas or even people from our sphere of personal influence in exchange for peace.
Now we must be careful about this. We need to never dismiss anyone and act as if they do not exist. Even if someone is a stumbling block to your spiritual progress and peace, we are to still love them with the love of Christ and treat them as we want to be treated. It might just be that they are not so much personally the obstacle to your peace as it is your relationship with them is the obstacle. Their influence in your life may be too great, or their lack of shared interests or beliefs may be a distraction. It might be any number of differences. It might even be you. In this instance, the answer is to change the nature of the relationship, not dismiss the individual. Again, this must be done with the spirit of love and Christian fellowship. In my experience, replacing the “toxic” relationship with a healthier and different kind of relationship with that same person, can and will restore peace. Maintaining proper boundaries are essential to personal peace. Unlike the philosophy of our younger generations today, not everyone can be your “BFF”. Sometimes we must set boundaries if we are to know peace. It is not always easy, but the benefits are worth it.
3. We must have a repentant spirit.
There is no peace within a heart that is unrepentant. Sin is not a popular topic today. Many consider it old-fashioned thinking. But the Bible teaches that as long as there are unconfessed sins in our hearts, then there is unfinished business between us and our Lord; and as long as there is unfinished business, there will be unrest. But thankfully, it does not have to be so. God has made provision for our weaknesses by giving us the grace needed for repenting. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” This “salvation without regret” implies an inner peace regardless of our mistakes, if we have truly repented. It is the good news of the gospel.
Peace of mind begins with peace with God. It is spiritual reconciliation with God and with our own pasts. Jesus made it possible with the cross. But the repentance is ours to carry out with the help of the Holy Spirit. We will stumble and fall, but it does not have to rob us of our peace. That peace can be regained with repentance.
4. We must stop interrupting what God is doing in our lives.
Once this peace is gained, we are promised that God will keep us in it. So if we are not experiencing peace, it most likely means we have failed to protect what He has given us. Put simply, we are in the way. We have somehow allowed the peace stealers out there to gain a foothold in our hearts. Again, if this is the case, we need to repent of it and start over. We need to get out of the way and fight with God instead of fighting against him. It is his will for you to have peace. It is his gift for you. Do not let pride or fear stand in the way of what God wants for you.
I cannot think of a greater existence than one of God’s perfect peace and rest. Does it sound good to you? Then protect what he has given you. Protect your peace.
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