Peace in the Middle

Read

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Think

Most of us want peace when the storm is over. We picture it as the calm after the chaos — the sigh of relief when the bill is paid, the relationship is healed, the diagnosis comes back clear. But the peace Isaiah describes is different. It is not peace after the trouble is gone. It is peace in the middle of it.

This kind of peace is not fragile. It does not depend on smooth sailing. It is not something you can manufacture with the right playlist, a day off, or a perfect plan. This peace comes from God, and it runs deeper than circumstances. Isaiah says God keeps this peace for those whose minds are steadfast — anchored, focused, unshaken — because they trust in him.

That means peace is not found in having control, but in surrendering it. Not in predicting the outcome, but in trusting the One who already knows it. The Hebrew word for “peace” here is shalom. It is more than the absence of conflict. It is wholeness, completeness, everything in its right place. You can have shalom even when life feels chaotic because God himself is your center.

Think of Jesus sleeping in the boat during the storm in Mark 4. The waves are crashing. The disciples are panicking. And there he is — asleep on a cushion. He was not ignoring the storm. He simply knew it could not overrule his Father’s authority. That same Jesus is with you in every storm, and he has not lost control.

Peace in the middle often starts in the mind. That is why Isaiah connects it to being “steadfast.” What you dwell on shapes what you feel. If you fix your thoughts on what could go wrong, peace will be elusive. But when you fix your thoughts on God’s faithfulness, his power, and his promises, peace begins to rise. Paul echoes this in Philippians 4:8, urging us to think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.

The problem is, our default is often the opposite. We replay the hurtful conversation. We imagine every possible worst-case scenario. We scroll endlessly, taking in a steady diet of bad news. No wonder peace feels far away. To have a steadfast mind, you have to be intentional about what you allow in. You cannot stop every storm from coming, but you can choose where you drop anchor.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood before a blazing furnace with peace in their voices. They knew God could rescue them — and they trusted him even if he did not. Daniel walked into the lions’ den without panic because he knew God’s presence would not leave him there alone. Paul sang hymns in prison because his chains did not dictate his joy. None of them had guarantees about the immediate outcome, but all of them had peace because they trusted the One in charge of the outcome.

Sometimes peace in the middle comes when you remember how God has carried you before. The Red Sea was split after the Israelites had nowhere else to turn. The manna came one day at a time in the desert. The walls of Jericho fell after days of what looked like pointless marching. God has a history of showing up right on time — not too early, not too late. That history is your anchor.

Other times, peace in the middle comes when you release what you cannot fix. You do your part, and you trust God with the rest. You pray instead of spiraling. You rest instead of overworking. You serve instead of stewing. Peace grows in the soil of trust, and trust grows when you remember who God is.

Maybe today you are in the middle — not at the starting line, but nowhere near the finish. The diagnosis is still unclear. The prayer has not been answered yet. The relationship has not been restored. You may not be able to change the storm, but you can choose where you set your mind. And if you set it on the One who never changes, you will find a peace the world cannot take away.

Apply

If you are facing a storm, pause today and name it out loud to God. Tell him exactly what is weighing on you. Then read Isaiah 26:3 slowly, asking him to steady your mind and anchor your trust in him. Choose one way to actively fix your thoughts on his truth this week — it could be memorizing a verse, starting your day with worship, or pausing at lunch to thank him for specific ways he has been faithful. Let peace grow as you keep your mind on him.

Pray

God, you promise perfect peace when my mind is steadfast. Teach me to fix my thoughts on you instead of my fears. Remind me of your faithfulness in the past and help me to trust you in the middle of what I am facing right now. Let your peace guard my heart and mind today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.