Greetings, Friends!

I trust that this note finds you all well. On Sunday, many from our Zion church family gathered for a brief service and time of communion at the park, followed by what people often experience when getting together: conversation and food! It was truly a gift to be able to see everyone’s faces and hear their voices. Matt, the kids, and I left encouraged and feeling so thankful. God’s church is alive, strong, and moving forward, carrying his good news, and nothing of the earth can stop the beautiful, eternal truths of who he is and what he has done!

Lately, as I go through my days, I keep thinking of a well-known verse from the book of Isaiah. I’m sure many of you know it. These are words I have spoken and thought of countless times in my life. What an amazing promise it is.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” – Isaiah 26: 3

Now, we need to remember that Isaiah prophesied during the 700s BC, including the time of Assyria’s attack on the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Much of his message had to do with God’s judgment of many nations, Judah itself, and the whole world. And yet, Isaiah also speaks wonderful words of hope, the coming Messiah, and God’s redemption. The particular verse I mentioned comes in the midst of a part speaking of both incredible judgment and destruction, as well as incredible deliverance and restoration.

Let me jump to something personal for a moment, because that will hopefully make the point of my musings! Many of you know that we had a baby at the end March, right when this worldwide pandemic first hit our country. And “Baby Gideon,” as we like to call him, has been teaching me something very important throughout this time. When he cries, I usually just tell one of the kids to go and stand near his little rocking bed, so that he can see the face of whichever sibling it is. Almost without fail, Gideon’s cries will stop, and he will become calm or, more often, he will begin to smile and coo happily. Similarly, when he gets fussy during the day, all I have to do is move him closer so that he can see me, hear me, or feel me near. Then, I will carry on with whatever I was doing, only to look over and find Gideon’s gaze fixed on me. He is usually smiling away, even if I am not looking at him! Just the other night, Matt was holding him while the two of us were talking on the couch, and Gideon was smiling and laughing all the while, his eyes never leaving Matt’s face, even though Matt wasn’t paying attention to him. When Matt did finally turn to look at him, Gideon was so excited that he caught his breath, and his smile instantly grew even bigger.

Isn’t that really what this verse in Isaiah is talking about? That we should fix our minds on God, our good Father, like little Gideon fixes his eyes on those who love him? As we all know, there is much brokenness in the world around us. Yet, we can stay our attention on God, trusting him and remembering his goodness. I’m sure you all have tough things that you are facing, burdens that are heavy to live with. I know we do. And those things carry a weight and reality. However, God’s faithfulness is the most real thing that there is, and we can look into the eyes of LOVE itself and trust him with our very lives. And unlike Matt, me, and our other kids, who are not always paying attention to Gideon, God is always turned toward us, seeing us, hearing us, and knowing us.

So, take heart today. And let’s remember that he will keep us in “perfect peace” as we look to him. Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace, and here “perfect peace” actually means shalom, shalom. Think double peace, abundant peace, and unshakable peace. He is with us!

Mary Weaver