Perfect Peace & Fullness of Joy
God wants His children to have peace. One reason we know this is because the Aaronic Benediction ends with the words “The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace” (Num. 6:26).
After Yeshua returns and establishes the Messianic Kingdom, there will be worldwide peace between all peoples. In the meantime, as we await His Return, we can each individually experience inward peace of heart. “Peace I leave with you,” Yeshua said. “My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27).
The peace He gave at His First Coming is not an external peace that is dependent on agreements between nations. There is still tribulation in the world, and there will be tribulation until He returns. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Even in a world filled with tribulation, you can have peace of heart from knowing that Yeshua overcame the world. The tribulation will someday end when He returns. Paul called this peace “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Ph’p 4:7).
Most believers experience this inward peace to varying degrees. But let me ask you a question. Can you honestly say that you have perfect inward peace? If not, there is a cure for imperfect peace. The prescription is in Isaiah 26:3:
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”
So if your peace of heart is imperfect, if you have a mixture of turmoil and peace in your heart, perhaps it is because you are not keeping your mind stayed on the Lord. Train and discipline your mind to stay focused on the Lord and to trust Him. This will perfect your peace.
God wants His people to have perfect peace. He also wants His people to have joy. We know this because God wants His people to work for Him. You need strength to work, and the Bible says “the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). Therefore God wants us to have joy.
King David called this joy “the joy of Thy salvation” (Ps. 51:12). Peter called it “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet. 1:8).
Even in a sad world, you can experience the joy of the Lord, the joy of knowing your sins are forgiven, the joy of knowing the Lord, the joy of knowing you have eternal life.
Most believers experience the joy of the Lord to varying degrees. But let me ask you a question. Can you honestly say that you have fullness of joy? If not, there is a cure for joy that is less than full. The prescription is in Psalm 16:11:
“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand are pleasures evermore.”
So if your joy is less than full, if your entire heart is not flooded with the joy of the Lord, perhaps it is because you are not spending enough time in His presence. Discipline yourself to pray and spend more time in His presence, because that is where you will find fullness of joy and pleasures evermore. And that is where you will find perfect peace as your mind stays focused on the Lord.
| DB
Image: Tisha B’Av by Daniel Botkin. See all Daniel’s art pieces on his art website, DanielBotkin.com.
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