You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.—Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Walking across the gangplank, I breathed a sigh of pure contentment. My husband and I had waited for months to start this much-needed vacation. Cruising, unlike other forms of travel, feels stress free. We pay for everything in advance and plan out our excursions. We never have to worry about where to eat or what to do. Since we don’t purchase the internet package, we can completely unplug from our world and truly relax. 

The cruise did its trick—six days later we felt completely rested. Until our phones began blowing up with all the text messages and emails we’d missed during our time away. And just like that we reentered the real world. 

I’ve thought a lot about that euphoric feeling we had during our vacation. Living without trouble or stress felt so good—I immediately wanted to schedule our next cruise. Obviously we can’t live in vacation mode all of our lives. We have responsibilities and obligations to meet. But somehow I don’t think the Lord meant for us to only experience this peaceful state of mind during our vacations. 

The prophet Isaiah promises us a way to have perfect peace: 

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3 NIV)

When Isaiah shared this promise, he looked forward to a time when the Messiah, Jesus, would reign over His Kingdom. Let’s look at the verses just before the promise:

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

We have a strong city;
    God makes salvation
    its walls and ramparts.
Open the gates
    that the righteous nation may enter,
    the nation that keeps faith. (Isaiah 26:1-2 NIV)

Fortified cities represented a refuge for people in Isaiah’s time. Every strong city had high walls and large towers for protection. We can experience this same security in the city God has waiting for us. Our salvation makes its walls and ramparts secure. The perfect peace God promises doesn’t come from a stress-free environment, but from trusting in Him and His promises. But, as we all know, this is easier said than done. 

This is because we live in a time that has been named “Already, but not yet”. We already live in the kingdom of God, but we do not yet experience it fully. We still live in a broken world where troubles and worries surround us. Everyday brings new problems to solve, and hundreds of decisions to make. These all take their toll. So how do we keep peace in the midst of these different trials?

We trust the One who promises to lead us to the strong city. God never promised the road would be easy (Acts 14:22). But He does promise these trials will refine our faith (1 Peter 1:6-7). And those who are faithful will enter the eternal protection of His strong city. 

No, we can’t live in vacation mode. But everything doesn’t have to be right in our world for us to be right with God. And being right with God brings perfect peace. 

Dear Lord Jesus: Thank You for the promise of eternal protection. Help us focus our minds on this promise as we continue to live in this broken world. We know the trials we face serve to refine our faith. Eventually they will end and we will live in your strong city for eternity. May we live in perfect peace by trusting this promise. We pray this in Your name. Amen.