“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength” Isaiah 26.3-4
In these verses, we see a very clear connection between the state of one’s mind and that same one’s peace of mind. The greater the “staying” of the mind on God, the greater the peace of mind.
As it is, there is much in this life which so often easily disturbs and upsets our peace. Outwardly, issues like the terrible shootings at schools, rising prices on food, goods, gas, the Ukranian war with the threat of its expansion into WW III, financial setbacks, or even ruin, loss of health, accidents, loss of loved ones, upset relationships, the tremendous onslaught of the attacks on the sanctity of life, marriage and gender can quickly disturb our peace.
Indeed, these upsets and unforeseen circumstances that come our way often interrupt the smooth sailing we would prefer to experience in our lives. But if we’re honest with ourselves, isn’t our loss of “peace of mind” the result of things going contrary to the way we want them to go? When that happens, it’s often the case that our minds are not “staying” upon God.
What does having one’s mind stayed on God mean? The beloved puritan Matthew Henry wrote concerning these verses that, “Those that trust in God must have their minds stayed upon him, must trust him at all times, under all events, must firmly and faithfully adhere to him, with an entire satisfaction in him; and such as do so God will keep in perpetual peace, and that peace shall keep them.”
Clearly, this “staying” of the mind on God starts with the mind being properly informed about who God is. It’s that true knowledge of God which results in trusting God in each and every circumstance. And that trust is the result in an ever-increasing delight and sense of fulfillment in God as we come to know Him.
As a believing Christian, I and other true believers in Christ can be at peace knowing about God that, “In Him… we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 3:11, italics mine).
And what is His will? Paul wrote the Thessalonians, “This is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thess. 4:3). And that sanctifying process includes suffering, persecution, loss and often more. Therefore, as Paul told the Thessalonians, “no one should be shaken” by their afflictions because they were “appointed to this” (3:3). And because of this “appointing”, we can actually be joyful in that God is using these things to not only sanctify, but to provide the believer proof that his faith is real, persevering in hope. This perseverance by faith unto the end will be the basis of God’s righteous judgment of counting that true believer as worthy on that Day. And all of it by God’s marvelous grace!
There’s more. The Apostle Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4.12-13).
In a similar way, Paul wrote that he not only wanted to “know Him (Christ) and the power of His resurrection”, but also “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3.10). Paul’s identification and therefore fellowship with Christ in the suffering associated with dying to self was of paramount importance to him.
In his 2nd letter to the Corinthians, Paul lists a catalog of his sufferings. He wrote, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (4.7-10).
And then wrote, “we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (vv. 16-19).
Paul always had his eye on the goal, that Day when he would stand perfected in body and soul, when he would be in the visible presence of his Lord Jesus Christ, and when he would delight in and be amazed in Christ receiving all the glory for the consummation of His work of redemption. But he would also be lost in wonder and praise that he too would be glorified “in Him” (2 Thess. 1.12).
All this means that I can be at peace because God sovereignly ordains and directs all that comes my way. I might not like what happens in and of itself, but I can and am enabled to be at peace, perfect peace (!), in the midst of the worst set of circumstance. Why? Because “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8.28).
Got peace? Are you trusting God in absolutely everything? If we’re honest, we often are not. We’re called to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” But take heart, by God’s grace, we’re enabled and amply supplied to do it because “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2.12-13).
May God keep your mind stayed on God.
In these verses, we see a very clear connection between the state of one’s mind and that same one’s peace of mind. The greater the “staying” of the mind on God, the greater the peace of mind.
As it is, there is much in this life which so often easily disturbs and upsets our peace. Outwardly, issues like the terrible shootings at schools, rising prices on food, goods, gas, the Ukranian war with the threat of its expansion into WW III, financial setbacks, or even ruin, loss of health, accidents, loss of loved ones, upset relationships, the tremendous onslaught of the attacks on the sanctity of life, marriage and gender can quickly disturb our peace.
Indeed, these upsets and unforeseen circumstances that come our way often interrupt the smooth sailing we would prefer to experience in our lives. But if we’re honest with ourselves, isn’t our loss of “peace of mind” the result of things going contrary to the way we want them to go? When that happens, it’s often the case that our minds are not “staying” upon God.
What does having one’s mind stayed on God mean? The beloved puritan Matthew Henry wrote concerning these verses that, “Those that trust in God must have their minds stayed upon him, must trust him at all times, under all events, must firmly and faithfully adhere to him, with an entire satisfaction in him; and such as do so God will keep in perpetual peace, and that peace shall keep them.”
Clearly, this “staying” of the mind on God starts with the mind being properly informed about who God is. It’s that true knowledge of God which results in trusting God in each and every circumstance. And that trust is the result in an ever-increasing delight and sense of fulfillment in God as we come to know Him.
As a believing Christian, I and other true believers in Christ can be at peace knowing about God that, “In Him… we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 3:11, italics mine).
And what is His will? Paul wrote the Thessalonians, “This is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thess. 4:3). And that sanctifying process includes suffering, persecution, loss and often more. Therefore, as Paul told the Thessalonians, “no one should be shaken” by their afflictions because they were “appointed to this” (3:3). And because of this “appointing”, we can actually be joyful in that God is using these things to not only sanctify, but to provide the believer proof that his faith is real, persevering in hope. This perseverance by faith unto the end will be the basis of God’s righteous judgment of counting that true believer as worthy on that Day. And all of it by God’s marvelous grace!
There’s more. The Apostle Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4.12-13).
In a similar way, Paul wrote that he not only wanted to “know Him (Christ) and the power of His resurrection”, but also “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3.10). Paul’s identification and therefore fellowship with Christ in the suffering associated with dying to self was of paramount importance to him.
In his 2nd letter to the Corinthians, Paul lists a catalog of his sufferings. He wrote, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (4.7-10).
And then wrote, “we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (vv. 16-19).
Paul always had his eye on the goal, that Day when he would stand perfected in body and soul, when he would be in the visible presence of his Lord Jesus Christ, and when he would delight in and be amazed in Christ receiving all the glory for the consummation of His work of redemption. But he would also be lost in wonder and praise that he too would be glorified “in Him” (2 Thess. 1.12).
All this means that I can be at peace because God sovereignly ordains and directs all that comes my way. I might not like what happens in and of itself, but I can and am enabled to be at peace, perfect peace (!), in the midst of the worst set of circumstance. Why? Because “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8.28).
Got peace? Are you trusting God in absolutely everything? If we’re honest, we often are not. We’re called to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” But take heart, by God’s grace, we’re enabled and amply supplied to do it because “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2.12-13).
May God keep your mind stayed on God.