Read Numbers 1, Isaiah 26, and Acts 11.
This devotional is about Isaiah 26.
It seems that anxiety and depression are on the rise in the United States [1]. I do not claim any unusual knowledge about or expertise in the areas of anxiety and depression. But, I know from experience that these problems can happen when we concentrate our minds on problems. The problems might be real or they might be things we fear could become real, but the result is the same. The human nervous system reacts to what humans think about.
Here in Isaiah 26, Isaiah continues to talk about “that day,” as verse 1 put it. “That day” is a reference to the end times when Christ will return in judgment and then establish his kingdom on earth. Isaiah has been writing about the events of “that day” for several chapters. Here in this chapter, Isaiah 26, he describes a song that God’s people Judah (v. 1) will sing then. It is a song that beautifully describes what God will do in the future but it has interludes, such as in verses 9-11, where Isaiah longs for God to do these things because the present reality is so very different.
Early in this song about the future, Isaiah sang this: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal” (vv. 3-4). Although this will be sung in the future kingdom of God, it expresses a truth that all of us need today. Put your mind steadfastly on the Lord, trust in him, and he will provide you with peace.
I don’t know what may be causing you stress, anxiety, or even depression today. I certainly can’t claim to know everything that you need. But, I can tell you this: God’s word tells us again and again that, when we experience these troubling feelings and emotions, it is an opportunity to train our minds on the Lord and look to him for peace.
That’s what I encourage you to do today. Maybe even memorize these verses: Isaiah 26:3-4, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal”
May our Rock eternal, the trustworthy Lord of peace be with you today as you put your mind on him.
[1] Here’s one recent report that provides some statistical evidence: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr213.pdf