Perfect Peace
Introduction. There are times in the life of each Christian when the bottom drops out of their life. A tragedy, financial setback or health problem comes crashing suddenly into our lives, leaving us stunned, shocked, and unable to process it all. What happens next is based on our spiritual maturity, spiritual mental health, and depth of the trust we have in our God. Some, like Job or David, while grieving the loss can accept the tragedy and move on. Job saw his relationship with God as far more important than his possessions and family. Everything else but that relationship was only temporary. That is what led him to say: “Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21). This is how the man God held up to us as “I have no one like him in all the earth” responded. We must not underestimate the importance of this response. Trusting God is easy while we are being blessed and surrounded by comfort and peace. What happens when we lose everything, either by time and chance, persecution or discipline? What happens to our trust in God then?
Have we truly accepted and “know that all things work together for good to those who love God?” (Rom. 8:25). This was the foundation behind Job’s words that God’s name is blessed when He gives (prosperity) and when He takes away (adversity). We don’t learn of his wife’s response until after he lost his possessions, children, and his health. After all this tragedy, her faith crumbled into dust: “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). We hear no more of her, but hope that she changed her mind and learned her folly after God blessed Job again. Job’s response to her reveals the depth of his own faith. “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10).
The importance of these words to our own faith must not be minimized. They are the foundation of perfect peace. Absolute trust and confidence that God loves us, that He will never allow us to be tempted above what He knows we can bear, and that it will all work out for our good are the ingredients that bring perfect peace: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isa. 26:3). When our mind is fixed on our eternal relationship with God as our only true and abiding possession, then everything else becomes secondary. Only then can we respond immediately as Job did. None of this reduces the pain and sorrow, but it still brings an inner peace in the midst of our greatest tribulations. Jesus not only led the way in this, but gave us this peace: “in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). With Jesus as Lord and the hope of everlasting life as our abiding possession, there isn’t any loss that we can’t take in stride and accept.
David as the “man after God’s own heart” encountered a similar loss and response. When he returned to his home in the city of Ziklag, he learned the “Amalekites attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire.” Thus all the possessions of David and the men he commanded were stolen just as Job’s had been. In addition, they had “taken captive the women and those who were there, did not kill anyone, but carried them away.” Their anguish was acute: “David and the people lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.” After they finished weeping, their minds went into two entirely different directions. The people “spoke of stoning him, because” they were “grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters.” Yet though David had lost exactly the same things they had, “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” (1Sam. 30:1-6). The different responses reflect the difference between those who have the peace of God (David) and those who do not (the people).
The writer of the 94th Psalm perfectly captured the dynamics behind the response of Job and David. If we can learn this, we can insulate ourselves from whatever tragedy or loss lurks over our own horizon. The Holy Spirit revealed the response of this godly man to the losses incurred through the bitter oppression of their rulers. Some were losing possessions and others lost family members. He summed it up with: they “break in pieces Your people, O Lord,” “they slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless.” (Ps. 94:5-6). Under such circumstances, no one knew who would be next. This inspired writer also contrasted those who make the Lord their help and those who do not. “Unless the Lord had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence. If I say, "My foot slips," Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties (anxious thoughts) within me, Your comforts delight my soul. (Ps. 94:17-19). In our assessment of our own responses, which category do we fit in?
There is so much wisdom and guidance in this song. “Settled in silence” was the answer of Job’s wife who said, “curse God and die,” and of David’s servants who could only think of taking vengeance by stoning David. This is the answer to all who lose hope in the midst of tribulation. When everything we worked for is lost in a moment, only our faith and trust in God can give life any meaning. Those who have not learned to “trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding” (Pr. 3:5) have no answers in times of tragedy. They settle into the silence of bitterness, anger, depression, and hopelessness. When this man saw himself at the crossroads and felt his own foot beginning to slip, he focused on God’s mercy. In another Psalm, the Holy Spirit revealed the exact train of thought: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.” (Ps. 103:2-5). One by one in quick succession these thoughts can replace the terrible silence of those who have not hope.
“In the multitude of my anxieties, Your comforts delight my soul.” What an amazing commentary on God’s ability to keep us in “perfect peace” and in how we can “let the peace of God rule” and control the strong emotions and anxieties in our soul. God’s forgiveness and mercy, power to heal and redeem, lovingkindness and tender mercy all combine to bring comforts and delights to our soul even in the deepest depths of the despair many tragedies unleash. God’s wonderful promise of redemption, eternal life, resurrection, and eternity in heaven can bring the light of delight and comfort into the unfathomable darkness that an anxious mind would carry us if we only leaned on our own understanding.
The choice to prepare for an “evil day” and “having done all to stand” is part of the “whole armor of God. (Eph. 6:10-18). We can’t control time and chance, or the thoughts and intents of the wicked. We simply don’t know what tomorrow may bring. But if we learn to “let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (Col. 3:15) we will be prepared. In the original language, this term translated “rule” is the “activity of the umpire whose office at the games is to direct, arbitrate and decide the contest.” Job, David, and the Psalmist knew how to use God’s peace to stand between the powerful emotions of fear, anger, grief and bitterness on the one side and trust, reverence, awe and submission on the other. One side strives to overwhelm and take control, and the other offers the way of escape. Thus the peace of God is an like umpire at a football game, keeping the competitors in check in the heat of the battle for victory. Job had this umpire, his wife unfortunately did not.
This is the main ingredient of the secret Paul and multitudes of others have learned. “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” (Phil. 4:12). We will only know if we have learned this or not when we can do it. Job and David knew this secret as did the writer of the 94th Psalm.
Conclusion. When we learned to walk, talk, or drive, we stored the proper responses to every circumstance in our subconscious mind. Now, when we need them, we don’t even have to think about them, they are just there. They come naturally without thought. Thus the minor inconveniences and troubles of life are like primary school. Remember when we first learned the vowels and consonants of our language? We slowly and painfully learned to read and write. Now we read and write effortlessly. James gives us the steps. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (Jas. 1:2-3). All the small trials of life bring us the ability to respond as Job and David. Over time, we can all learn:
Have we truly accepted and “know that all things work together for good to those who love God?” (Rom. 8:25). This was the foundation behind Job’s words that God’s name is blessed when He gives (prosperity) and when He takes away (adversity). We don’t learn of his wife’s response until after he lost his possessions, children, and his health. After all this tragedy, her faith crumbled into dust: “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). We hear no more of her, but hope that she changed her mind and learned her folly after God blessed Job again. Job’s response to her reveals the depth of his own faith. “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10).
The importance of these words to our own faith must not be minimized. They are the foundation of perfect peace. Absolute trust and confidence that God loves us, that He will never allow us to be tempted above what He knows we can bear, and that it will all work out for our good are the ingredients that bring perfect peace: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isa. 26:3). When our mind is fixed on our eternal relationship with God as our only true and abiding possession, then everything else becomes secondary. Only then can we respond immediately as Job did. None of this reduces the pain and sorrow, but it still brings an inner peace in the midst of our greatest tribulations. Jesus not only led the way in this, but gave us this peace: “in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). With Jesus as Lord and the hope of everlasting life as our abiding possession, there isn’t any loss that we can’t take in stride and accept.
David as the “man after God’s own heart” encountered a similar loss and response. When he returned to his home in the city of Ziklag, he learned the “Amalekites attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire.” Thus all the possessions of David and the men he commanded were stolen just as Job’s had been. In addition, they had “taken captive the women and those who were there, did not kill anyone, but carried them away.” Their anguish was acute: “David and the people lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.” After they finished weeping, their minds went into two entirely different directions. The people “spoke of stoning him, because” they were “grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters.” Yet though David had lost exactly the same things they had, “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” (1Sam. 30:1-6). The different responses reflect the difference between those who have the peace of God (David) and those who do not (the people).
The writer of the 94th Psalm perfectly captured the dynamics behind the response of Job and David. If we can learn this, we can insulate ourselves from whatever tragedy or loss lurks over our own horizon. The Holy Spirit revealed the response of this godly man to the losses incurred through the bitter oppression of their rulers. Some were losing possessions and others lost family members. He summed it up with: they “break in pieces Your people, O Lord,” “they slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless.” (Ps. 94:5-6). Under such circumstances, no one knew who would be next. This inspired writer also contrasted those who make the Lord their help and those who do not. “Unless the Lord had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence. If I say, "My foot slips," Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties (anxious thoughts) within me, Your comforts delight my soul. (Ps. 94:17-19). In our assessment of our own responses, which category do we fit in?
There is so much wisdom and guidance in this song. “Settled in silence” was the answer of Job’s wife who said, “curse God and die,” and of David’s servants who could only think of taking vengeance by stoning David. This is the answer to all who lose hope in the midst of tribulation. When everything we worked for is lost in a moment, only our faith and trust in God can give life any meaning. Those who have not learned to “trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding” (Pr. 3:5) have no answers in times of tragedy. They settle into the silence of bitterness, anger, depression, and hopelessness. When this man saw himself at the crossroads and felt his own foot beginning to slip, he focused on God’s mercy. In another Psalm, the Holy Spirit revealed the exact train of thought: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.” (Ps. 103:2-5). One by one in quick succession these thoughts can replace the terrible silence of those who have not hope.
“In the multitude of my anxieties, Your comforts delight my soul.” What an amazing commentary on God’s ability to keep us in “perfect peace” and in how we can “let the peace of God rule” and control the strong emotions and anxieties in our soul. God’s forgiveness and mercy, power to heal and redeem, lovingkindness and tender mercy all combine to bring comforts and delights to our soul even in the deepest depths of the despair many tragedies unleash. God’s wonderful promise of redemption, eternal life, resurrection, and eternity in heaven can bring the light of delight and comfort into the unfathomable darkness that an anxious mind would carry us if we only leaned on our own understanding.
The choice to prepare for an “evil day” and “having done all to stand” is part of the “whole armor of God. (Eph. 6:10-18). We can’t control time and chance, or the thoughts and intents of the wicked. We simply don’t know what tomorrow may bring. But if we learn to “let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (Col. 3:15) we will be prepared. In the original language, this term translated “rule” is the “activity of the umpire whose office at the games is to direct, arbitrate and decide the contest.” Job, David, and the Psalmist knew how to use God’s peace to stand between the powerful emotions of fear, anger, grief and bitterness on the one side and trust, reverence, awe and submission on the other. One side strives to overwhelm and take control, and the other offers the way of escape. Thus the peace of God is an like umpire at a football game, keeping the competitors in check in the heat of the battle for victory. Job had this umpire, his wife unfortunately did not.
This is the main ingredient of the secret Paul and multitudes of others have learned. “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” (Phil. 4:12). We will only know if we have learned this or not when we can do it. Job and David knew this secret as did the writer of the 94th Psalm.
Conclusion. When we learned to walk, talk, or drive, we stored the proper responses to every circumstance in our subconscious mind. Now, when we need them, we don’t even have to think about them, they are just there. They come naturally without thought. Thus the minor inconveniences and troubles of life are like primary school. Remember when we first learned the vowels and consonants of our language? We slowly and painfully learned to read and write. Now we read and write effortlessly. James gives us the steps. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (Jas. 1:2-3). All the small trials of life bring us the ability to respond as Job and David. Over time, we can all learn:
- “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. … Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. … Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” (Ps. 23:1-6)