"Peace in the Storm: How to Stand Firm When Life Shakes"
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"Peace in the Storm: How to Stand Firm When Life Shakes" Isaiah 26:3-4
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
4 Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
Confession of Faith
I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith!
Introduction
I was listening to Joyce Meyers and she said something to this affect - Don’t quote me on this , but it goes like this
"Trusting in the Lord isn't a passive act; it's the most active thing you can do in a world that constantly tries to shake your foundation. Isaiah reminds us that our God is an everlasting Rock—the kind of stability we need when the ground beneath us feels like shifting sand."
That’s what we need when life starts shaking us up
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
The text says "You will keep" That means that God is actively keeping the peace for those who follow Him. For those who follow his Son Jesus Christ! God is not just saying it; he is actively promising it over and over again. I got You! I Got you - Life is turning upside down God is telling us - I got you , I will keep you
"in perfect peace": The original Hebrew text uses the word "shalom" twice ("shalom, shalom"), which can be translated as "perfect peace". This repetition shalom, shalom makes the point that the peace God gives is full and perfect. No matter what you situation or your circumstance is - This peace that covers all parts of life, including peace in your mind, peace in you body, and peace in your spirit.
Whose mind is stayed on You or another translation says
"those whose minds are steadfast":
Steadfastness here refers to a firm, unwavering focus on God. It means making a conscious choice to keep thinking about God's promises and character no matter what else is going on around you.
"because He trust in you": Trust is the foundation of the relationship that leads to peace. Now the type of peace he’s talking about is not just for anyone, but specifically for those who place their trust in God. Trust here is more than belief—it's a reliance on God in every aspect of our life.
So - I want to share this story - we will use the name Angela to protect identity! Angela is a school teacher! And recently she had to face the she was just giving a stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis! Now Angela is known for her vibrant spirit and dedication to her students! Now her life has been turned upside down and is full of , radiation and chemotherapy treatments, doctor visits, and the uncertainty of her future. But with all of this going on Angela found a source of peace and strength through her faith.
When Angela initially received the news of her diagnosis it was an initial shock and then the spirit of fear became overwhelming! But she was in her living room that evening, quietly processing and her eyes fell upon a scripture her grandmother had often quoted:
What you think it was?
Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
This verse did something to her in her heart, It reminded her of the importance of keeping her focus on God’s presence and God’s promises, rather than her fears.
So Angela was Motivated by this scripture, and started a routine that she called her “morning moments of peace.” Each day, before the sun rose and the world around her awoke, Angela would sit by her window, Bible in hand, meditating on Isaiah 26:3. She visualized herself wrapped in perfect peace, a peace that transcended the physical and emotional turmoil cancer brought into her life. These moments became her daily armor, equipping her with calmness and courage.
Now, as Angela underwent her treatments, she joined a cancer support group and shared her story and the verse that kept her anchored. Her testimony of finding peace in the promise of God’s steadfastness encouraged many who were struggling with their own fears and doubts. Angela’s steadfast trust in God transformed her outlook, and surprisingly, the outlook of others around her.
She talks about a specific instance- it was during a particularly difficult daywhile she was receiving her chemotherapy! She noticed a woman - who had been recently diagnosed who was visibly anxious and overwhelmed. So Angela made her way to the woman and shared her practice of focusing on Isaiah 26:3 and how it helped her maintain peace. It was this little gesture - sharing with one person that sparked a change in others lives! She tells the story that other folks began sharing their sources of strength and scriptures that uplifted them, and this created a supportive environment that was filled with hope and camaraderie.
Fast forward to Today, Angela continues to battle cancer, but she does so with a heart full of peace. Her story of faith and trust has not only brought her personal peace and tranquility but has also inspired her family, friends, and even strangers to find their own peace through trust in God during life’s most challenging times.
This woman’s journey, is an example that even in the battle against cancer, you can have the perfect peace that comes from a mind focused on God.
Isaiah 26:3 is a powerful and encouraging verse ! Man, this tells us about the peace that is available for us to walk in! The peace God provides to those who steadfastly trust in Him.
Now , This verse , is set within a song of praise in the Book of Isaiah! Chapter 26
When you read Isaiah 26 you will understand there is Power in Praise
Praise shifts our focus from our circumstances to the sovereignty and goodness of God.
Man when life begins to shake we have the meditation on the WOrd of God and we have the Power that comes from giving God Praise!
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
David wrote these words not when he was comfortable, but when he was fleeing from King Saul. Even in dire circumstances, David chose to praise God. When we praise God, we declare that He is greater than our greatest challenges.
So let me share this story - for encouragement when life really starts shaking
There is a Man his name is Thomas, he is about 52 years old! - he’s married and owns has a barber shop!
Again for the sake of privacy - I’m not going to use their names, cHis youngest son, we will call him Marcus, is battling a life-threatening heart condition that requires constant medical attention and he may need a heart transplant. Again, this man’s world is shaking! Constant medical appointments, and emergency room visits, and dealing with the uncertainty of what might happened to his youngest! He tells me this!
One evening in while he was still in his barbershop, after a long day filled with anxious thoughts about his son's recent hospitalization. He was was closing up! One of his old friends who is a pastor, shared this verse with him that has gave him comfort through this situation with his son!
Guess what it was - Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
For some reason This scripture registered with Thomas . This is what he realized - He said , I’m anxious about everything now, and he said it’s just been draining me! I’m tired all the time ! And it’s affecting the rest of the family and even how I am dealing with clients and those who rent chairs at the shop!
He said - I need some peace and made up his mind to find peace in the midst of everything that as happening to him!
Thomas began to integrate this promise into his daily life. Every morning before opening his shop, he would spend a few quiet minutes in the back room, meditating on that Isaiah 26:3 and praying for his son’s health and his own strength.
As days turned into weeks, folks at the shop began to notice a change in Thomas. The challenges were still there - His world was still shaking , his son still had health issues , but there was a calm and positive about him.
Here again, God working in the middle of chaos! He was talking to one of his clients about all that was going on and he shared the verse! He shared the verse from Isaiah! - I gonna start calling it the verse!
He told his client how the verse transformed his outlook on his life situation! But the conversation didn’t end there; it actually started something in the shop that sparked a deeper dialogue among the everyone waiting for their cut. Long story short - The barbershop, which was a cornerstone of the community, became a place where men not only came for a haircut but also for a dose of encouragement and spiritual uplift.
Again, just like in the previous story the journey with his son is still real and ongoing! But Thomas'is able to maintain peace through unwavering trust in God has not only bolstered his own resilience but also inspired and united his community.
Now meditating on the verse and giving God praise go hand in hand - especially when life starts shaking and for some of us - life is in a full blown tsunami or level 10 earthquake
Here is what I believe - meditating on the word of God and giving him praise must be our intiative in times of trouble!
It must be our declaration that God’s grace is sufficient, regardless of our circumstances.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
The story of Paul and Silas in prison is a powerful example of initiating praise in difficult times:
Ok so lets close this up!
4 Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
So there is a connection between Isaiah 26: verses 3 and 4
3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
4 Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
In verse 3, the result of believing in God is perfect peace. It says that people who keep their eyes on God and believe him no matter what else is going on will be given peace. This peace is called "perfect," which means it covers everything in life.
Verse 4 adds to this by telling us to always trust God. In verse 3, it says that trusting God is important because he is "the Rock eternal." This picture of God shows Him as a solid base that doesn't move, highlighting how reliable and strong He is. This picture of God as a rock gives a clear picture of safety and security, which are traits that help bring about peace.
Now Verse 4 Builds on and Supports Verse 3 In verse 3, it says that trusting in God will give you perfect peace. In verse 4, it says that this trust is deserved and should last forever because God is a steadfast Rock who doesn't change.
In verse 4, it says that Christ Follower, The Believer, The Christian should trust God forever, not just for a short time. This is done by calling God "the Rock eternal." It gives them hope that God will always be strong and help them, which is important for keeping the peace as verse 3 says.
Now it makes sense, you understand the promise of peace in verse 3 if you know what verse 4 says about God. The peace talked about in verse 3 is easier to understand and reach when you know that God is an eternal rock.
Trusting in God's eternal nature (verse 4) leads to a peaceful life (verse 3), showing that there is a straight link between believing in God's character and getting good things from it.
Along these lines, Isaiah 26:4 not only supports the message of trust and peace in verse 3, but it also adds to it by giving us a real strong reason to keep our trust in God strong. The word peace and trust is a strong foundation for the faith of people!
Peace in the storm - we can stand firm when life shakes us up because Isaiah 26:3-4
Isaiah 26:3–4 (NKJV)
3 You will keep them in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
4 Trust in the Lord forever, For God bless you the Lord, is everlasting strength.
God Bless you and keep you in perfect peace is my prayer