Feasting on Truth: When Our Minds Wander from Perfect Peace

 Lysa TerKeurst's "Forgiving What You Can't Forget" has been a guiding light on a difficult path, but the journey often brings us face-to-face with a fundamental truth that Scripture lays bare: what we meditate on is what our mind becomes fixed on. 

Think of it like this: our minds are constantly being fed, and just as physical food nourishes our bodies, the thoughts we dwell on nourish our souls and shape our perspectives. What we repeatedly consider, what we allow to occupy our mental landscape, is what our minds ultimately feast upon.

This is why the battle for our minds is so crucial, especially when navigating the treacherous terrain of hurt and unforgiveness. When we allow our thoughts to be consumed by anger, resentment, and the desire for retribution, those emotions take root and begin to define our inner world. We become what we dwell upon.

But God, in His infinite wisdom, offers us an alternative feast – a mental and spiritual diet that leads to profound peace. 

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) offers this powerful promise: You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

This verse is a beacon in the storm of our turbulent emotions. It reveals the direct correlation between where our focus lies and the level of peace we experience. When our minds are intentionally and consistently "stayed" on God – on His character, His promises, His love, His justice – a "perfect peace" guards our hearts and minds. This isn't a passive state; it requires a conscious effort to direct our thoughts towards Him, to make Him the focal point of our mental energy.

However, the reality of our human nature is that we often stray. Tempted by the immediate gratification of dwelling on our hurts, replaying offenses, and plotting revenge, we wander off the path of peace. We try to navigate the complexities of forgiveness and healing using our own limited understanding and strength. We attempt to fix what's broken with our own flawed tools.

And what happens when we go it alone? More often than not, we find ourselves tangled in a web of our own making, further from peace and deeper in frustration. It's in these moments of self-reliance gone awry that we are humbled and often compelled to return to the only true source of healing and peace: God Himself.

Like a child running off only to stumble and scrape their knees, we eventually realize our desperate need for the Father's touch. We come back to Him, perhaps bruised and weary from our solo attempts, and He, in His boundless grace, doesn't scold or abandon us. Instead, He meets us with open arms, ready to bind up our wounds and help us navigate the path we tried to forge on our own.

The journey of forgiveness, as Lysa TerKeurst so honestly portrays, is often a cycle of striving in our own strength and then surrendering to God's. We try to reason our way through the pain, to force ourselves to forgive, only to find ourselves still wrestling with the same bitter emotions. It's in those moments of hitting a wall that we must remember Isaiah 26:3. True and lasting peace isn't found in our own efforts, but in the steadfast focus of our minds on the One who holds all peace.

So, as we navigate the challenging terrain of forgiving what we can't forget, let us be mindful of where our minds are feasting. Let us intentionally turn our gaze towards God, anchoring our thoughts in His Word and His promises. And when we inevitably stumble and try to go it alone, let us be quick to return to Him, trusting that He is always ready to mend what we've broken and lead us back to the perfect peace that only He can provide.