Perfect Peace

In the time of panic, God's trusting people will be blessed with perfect peace.

The Lord declares, "I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord: and I will heal him" (Isaiah 57:19). The Hebrew word for "peace" here is "perfect peace."

I believe that as we're surrounded by chaos and hysteria in the coming days, America is going to witness the greatest testimony of God's glory and power it has even seen. How? All of America will see that many of God's people possess his perfect peace! In that time the Lord is going to raise up a people who've been endowed with his absolute, perfect peace - peace that Christ himself now enjoys at the right hand of the Father. And we're going to live, move and breathe in that wonderful peace.

Scripture says God will keep all who trust him "...in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26.3). And right now, many of God's people are making this commitment to him: "I'm going to set my heart to seek God through everything, no matter what comes. I'm going to give him all that I have and all that I am. I believe his judgment is coming - so I'm going to prepare myself for him, as his bride!"

God first made his promise of perfect peace to those in Judah who were undergoing a great chastening of the Lord upon their land. God was bringing down all the high fortresses and walls, all the pomp and riches people leaned on, "...even to the dust" (Isaiah 25:12). Even the faithful remnant that still trusted in God were shaken to their very core. Yet during that time, God told Isaiah to reassure these faithful believers: "The Lord is going to keep you in perfect peace - if you simply trust him!" The prophet said, "Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us..." (26:12). In other words, God is going to set up in our hearts his very own peace. He wants to give us a peace that can't be shaken.

Likewise today, when panic strikes in America - when the ominous news begins to send shock waves of fear across the land, and hysteria mounts - God's people won't be able to avoid feeling the huge wave of human anxiety. That's right - I will feel it, you will feel it; all Christians are going to feel it. Such feelings are inevitable; it's simply human to have this kind of reaction to such terrible chaos. Yet, at the same time, God will put within us the resources needed to take immediate control of every fearful thought and bring it to the truth of Christ. And his Spirit will fill our very beings with his perfect peace!