Isaiah 26:3-4
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust in the Lord for ever” for in the Lord Jehova is everlasting strength.”
In the past I have always treasured the idea of peace yet found it elusive in my own life. I would cry out to God begging him to change my circumstances so that I could have peace. Or I would deny my feelings of anxiety by overeating or over busying myself. Either way left me feeling hopeless and stuck, as well as disappointed that I was anxious and depressed instead of at peace and full of joy. I had read Gods word and knew that I should be experiencing such a life, yet deep down, I knew I wasn’t.
Through this verse in Isaiah 26 the Lord exposed my faulty thinking. Anxiety is a choice! An anxious thought can be captured and submitted to Christ, but an anxious attitude is chosen and acted upon.
Anxiety and peace are placed before us by the way of various circumstances. In that moment we are tempted to walk in anxiety rather than the way of the Lord, which is peace. Once I place my foot on the path of anxiety I am walking away from faith and have chosen to cultivate the works of my flesh as in Galatians 5. However when I trust in the Lord regardless of circumstance, when I praise, worship, seek and lay before him all my heart, mind and soul, I slay the flesh and the spirit of God within me rises up to rule my reactions to circumstance. The path of peace is the path of righteousness that when walked upon cultivates the fruits of the spirit. Love, joy, peace patience, goodness, gentleness, kindness and self-control. The path of anxiety is the path of destruction when walked upon damages the power, love and sound mind that Christ has gifted us with and tempts us to justify numerous abominations before our Lord. So the battle is not to change every seemingly negative situation in our life but rather to keep our mind on Christ and choose to follow his word no matter what our feelings or fears.
Today as the Lord revealed the relevance of this verse to my life I feel as though I am finally free. Freed to have peace that surpasses the limited understanding that I possess regarding my curcumstances. Free to be patient in my affliction of poor health. Free to love, cherish and bring up in the ways of the Lord, my 8 year old son who has Down syndrome. Free to be excited about the endless, messy, creative inventions that my six year old blesses our home with throughout the day. Free to thank God for the long hours that my husband works. Free to give my heart to my husband who has looming health challenges trusting that God holds time in his hands. Yes today I am free like never before. I have truly lost my old life full of worry and lacking faith and choose to run in Christ’s strength from the temptation of anxiety. Peace and grace be with me through our Lord Jesus Christ and peace and grace be to any who read this testimony and call upon our Lord Jesus Christ for the same freedom he has given me.
