Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV): You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
The word 'perfect' here is 'shalem' in Hebrew, meaning 'full, whole, complete'. This word 'shalem' comes from the word 'shalam', which means 'to be safe, to be complete'.
How about the word 'peace' here in this verse? This word is 'shalom' in Hebrew, meaning 'safety, wellness, wholeness, welfare, health, prosperity, favor'. Notice the broad meaning of this word 'shalom' here. By the way, this word 'shalom' also comes from the same word 'shalam', which means 'to be safe, to be complete'.
So, here you go! 'Perfect peace' in Hebrew is 'shalem shalom'! As you can see above, both these words 'perfect' and 'peace' come from this same word 'shalam'. Double 'shalam'! Dual peace! As your mind is stayed on Him (instead of on the world, or on the issues/problems of this world), God will keep you in 'shalem shalom'! That's perfect peace - both internally and externally!
Internally:
In John 14:27, Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." The Word of God says Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). This word 'prince' here is 'sar' in Hebrew, which can mean 'head, chief, ruler, keeper, lord, master, beginner, source'. Indeed, He is the 'Sar Shalom', the Source of Peace that no one in this world can give! When He gives, it is for you to receive! And when He leaves this peace with you, it is meant to stay in you! This peace stays in your spirit and your soul (i.e. your mind, will, and emotion).
Externally:
And then in Mark 4:39, in the midst of the windstorm and rough seas, Jesus said, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. This peace is also upon your physical body and the circumstances around you.
You see, that's what 'perfect peace' should be! And you have it when your mind is stayed on Him. The word 'stayed' here is pronounced 'saw-mak' in Hebrew, which simply means 'to lean upon'. This 'leaning upon' is an attitude of your mind which trusts God that His thoughts for you are always thoughts of peace ('shalom') that gives you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
People of God, continue to lean upon Him and never give up trusting Him, no matter what. He will help you if you are willing. By God's grace, you can choose to set your mind on Him, instead of the things that trouble you in this world. Colossians 3:2 says to 'set your mind on things above, and not on things on the earth', and Romans 8:5-6 says as you 'set your mind on Him (i.e. being spiritually-minded), you'll have life and peace'.
To trust Him is to put all your confidence in Him, even if there are things that you can never understand or comprehend why these happened.
To trust Him is to know that He is still sovereign and in control, despite some personal tragedies, chaos, or bad news that may have shaken you recently.
To trust Him is to look to Him and be fully dependent on Him, knowing that He is God, and we are not, and that He knows all things, even things ahead of us; 'for in Him we live and move and have our being' (Acts 17:28) and 'that all things will work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:28).
The devil will always want to 'steal, kill, and destroy' God's people (John 10:10). The devil will always want to cause doubts among God's people - doubts about God, doubts about God's Word, doubts about God's goodness, and doubts about God's grace. In other words, the devil will always want God's people to question God, God's Word, God's goodness, and God's grace. Because he knows doubts will eventually lead to loss of faith. When there's loss of faith in God, God's people will begin to walk out on Him. That's the devil's ultimate aim. That's what he did to Adam and Eve anyway (see Genesis 3:1-5), and his aim has never changed since then.
The apostle Paul understood this very well, because often times, he could have doubted God. In fact, he had every reason to doubt God or God's calling for his life. But by God's grace, he was able to keep putting his trust on his sovereign God. This is what he wrote: 'in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness' (2 Corinthians 11:23-27), yet his deep concern was only for God's things (2 Corinthians 11:28).
In the next chapter, he then wrote, 'And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities (weaknesses, i.e. dependence on God), that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities (weaknesses, i.e. dependence on God), in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong' (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
So, whatever you may be going through at the moment, you are not alone through this. We are all in this together, and the citizens of heaven are also cheering us on, as we continue to run towards the finishing line. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, 'Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin (including fear and unbelief) which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God'.
Ephesians 6:12-13 says, 'For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand'.
In the meantime, I pray 'the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord' (Philippians 4:7). This peace in you will hold you together when everything else in this world seems to be in chaos. Receive this peace from Him. In Jesus' name. Amen.
