Perfect Peace? Is it Possible?

I woke up with two words echoing in my heart — perfect peace.
Not decent peace. Not “I’ll be okay if nothing goes wrong” peace.
But perfect peace.

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

I’ve quoted that verse for years, but this morning I paused and asked — “What does perfect peace look like when the world feels anything but peaceful?”

We don’t have to look far to see the chaos. Turn on the news and you’ll find anger, violence, fear, and division on full display. Scripture already told us this would be so:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10)

And goodness, doesn’t it feel like he’s been busy?
But Jesus didn’t stop there. He continued with the promise that steadies my soul:
“…but I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

Perfect peace doesn’t mean we deny the darkness. It means we refuse to let it rule our hearts.

Isaiah spoke those words during a dark chapter in Israel’s history. Trouble was personal — which tells me this promise wasn’t written for sunny days only. It was written for these days.

God never promised us a life free from storms. But He promised something better — peace in the middle of them.

Perfect peace doesn’t mean the thunder stops. It means our soul doesn’t panic when it rolls. It’s a deep, settled calm that whispers, God sees this. God knows. God is still in control.

The Hebrew word “shalom” means wholeness — health of the soul. When God’s peace fills us, fear loses its grip. Anxiety loosens its hold. Panic takes a back seat.

It reminds me of that old story of the king who asked artists to paint peace. One painted calm waters and blue skies. Another painted a raging storm — but hidden behind the waterfall was a small bird, resting quietly in her nest.

That painting won.

Because peace isn’t the absence of noise.
It’s rest in the middle of it.
Jesus said:
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled.” (John 14:27)

So today — news headlines and all — may our hearts be like that little nest: hidden, held, and secure.
That’s perfect peace.
And it’s available to us — right here. Right now!