This verse is very familiar to me because of the Sunday school song we used to sing. Lots of verses trigger those kinds of memories for me, and I am grateful for the people who taught me those songs, and hymns, so long ago. This translation has different wording from the song, but I definitely recognize it. What I didn’t remember is that this verse was from Isaiah. I would have guessed it to be something Paul wrote in the New Testament. Anyhow, what stands out to me in thinking about the song and this translation of the verse are the adjectives used to describe my mind. What do I have to do to find perfect peace? The song uses ‘stay’ as is ‘whose mind is stayed on’ God. What an old way to use that word! I can understand why more modern translations didn’t keep it. Instead this translation uses ‘depend’ as in the ‘mind that is dependent on’ God. I’m not a Bible scholar so I don’t know the original language Isaiah was written in or what word was used. But in contemplating both ‘dependent on’ and ‘stayed on’ I can get a pretty good idea what perfect peace takes. When I’m not at peace, my mind is racing. I’m worried, probably about many things at once. I’m trying to come up with possible solutions. Or maybe thinking of scenarios that might play out. Or just regretting my past actions. Or excited or anxious about future activities. Isaiah says there is a way out of this mind-blender of thoughts. And it is a gift from God. It’s not something I can meditate my way into by myself. The verse says ‘God will keep me in perfect peace’, not ‘I will achieve perfect peace if I….’ However, I do have a job. My job is to return my thoughts to God. To mediate on God. To stay on Him with my mind. To depend on Him with my thoughts – even if I don’t believe it yet in my heart! He will give me perfect peace if I keep redirecting my thoughts back to God and contemplating how trustworthy He is.
Dear God,
Thank you so much for this promise of perfect peace. I need that and want that. It seems impossible sometimes, so thank you for the assurance that it comes from you as a gift and isn’t something I have to manufacture. Remind me to return my thoughts to you and your love for me when I am anxious or overwhelmed. Your peace is perfect.
CamDevo 