“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves” (2 Cor. 13:5, NKJV).
This verse tells us that there is a way to find out if we are “in the faith.” What is that way? “Test yourselves.” What is that test? We find the answer in another key Scripture:
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isa. 26:3, NLT).
Perfect peace. This is the litmus test for whether we are in a heart posture of faith. When our hearts are at rest, trusting the Father, we have His peace. When we slip from trust to fear, we temporarily lose His peace. The presence or absence of real peace within us is how we can tell if we are in faith. According to 2 Corinthians 13:5 (above), Holy Spirit wants us to do heart checks about this regularly. How? We lean in and quiet ourselves enough to take tabs on the state of our soul. We ask ourselves, Am I at peace right now?
If we find we are not at peace, there is no shame. There is no condemnation. Instead, there is grace upon grace to keep growing in trust. This just is part of the learning process. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit that He gradually develops in our character over a lifetime. Jesus takes responsibility for this. He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Over and over, He will coach us in returning to our rest in Him. Our part is to keep turning our hearts back towards Him as He beckons us.
When our heart check informs us that we have slipped out of a posture of peace, Holy Spirit simply, lovingly, invites us to slip back into it. He teaches us the way here:
How flabbergasting is this divine exchange! Imagine you were holding a plate of your very favorite treat, about to bite into its sumptuousness. Imagine someone came up to you and asked, “Would you trade me that delicious dessert for this plate of moldy mud?” You would think they were crazy, right?
And yet, God offers us an exchange like that. You give Him your problems, your worries, your anxieties, your heartbreak. He receives them into Himself and, in their place, gives you His perfect peace. Perfect peace that becomes like a first-class line of military defense protecting your thoughts and emotions.
Next time you test yourself and realize you have slipped out of peace, remember that. Daddy is lovingly waiting with arms stretched wide to you. He is ready to trade your mud for His sweet delicacies, your worries for His protection, and your anxiety for His perfect peace.
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What has your journey further into God’s peace been like? If you could share one bit of advice about growing in His peace, what would it be?
Feeding On Jesus 
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post! ❤️ Thank you for sharing this! It has my very favorite verse in it-Isaiah 26:3. And you put this post together so perfectly, it was like getting a whole new perspective. I’ve been struggling with severe anxiety lately and this post was very timely!
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Aw, I am so very glad, Aimee! Saying a prayer right now for that gift of His perfect peace to wrap you up like a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer on a winter day 🙂 💖
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Thank you so much, Jennifer! ❤️
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You are welcome, sister! 🙂 🌹
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I just had an experience of this! Something happened, caused a relapse of a sinful habit of mind that God has commanded me to stop (easier said than done!). I’ve been working on that, praying for help, etc., for the past year, and have been doing much better. But then I had a relapse. I could feel myself getting frustrated with the relapse & prayed, “God, I’m going to need your help with this.” Then I fell asleep for a 10-minute nap. When I woke up I could actually feel the Holy Spirit holding me like a safety harness to prevent me from falling further. It was a tangible sense that He had caught me and would not let me fall further into relapse. In my heart was the clear knowledge that, “Oh, I get it. You are using this to strengthen me!” I thanked God and felt at Peace again. I also have been studying the Book of Job with a friend this month and could see how He is weaving all these things together to help me grow. This post of yours is also woven into that lesson. God is so awesome!
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Oh, thank You Jesus! This is such a beautiful testimony of His love! Thank you so much for sharing it with me, Ruth 🙂 I am praising Him for HIs goodness to you!
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Love this post Jennifer.
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Aw thank you, Manu!
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As I reach the milestone of 70 years this September I realize this is where King David expected life to normally end (and his did), but being in the “healthy generation” we expect another decade or so before the Lord calls me Home. I have always been aware of my mortality from when a fellow 13-year old died while bicycling. But somehow reaching this milestone sets my mind at peace that there is nothing the world can do to me anymore that will ever dissuade me from following Jesus… to the end.
“Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face,
there to sing forever of His saving grace.
On the streets of Glory, let me lift my voice;
cares all past, Home at last, ever to rejoice!” (Rufus H. Cornelius)
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Letting your words sink in deeply. That must be truly an amazing feeling, my brother! And to know that our forever home is a much smaller fraction of your life away… wow. When I imagine getting even further than that, to just moments away from my last breath, it fills me with unspeakble joy! Truly, to die is gain. Yet, for the purposes He has for me yet here, I will remain. But my heart calls out with that same longing expressed in those words you share here from Cornelius!
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Jenn, this is perfect. Hit me so timely tie as t. Thank you always! Sharing with many 🙂
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I am so blessed to hear that, my sister! Thank you so much for letting me know. It brings me joy!
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Beautiful ❤
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Aw, thanks!
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It has been and continues to be a learning experience – a good one!
My piece of advice would be to be ok not being ok sometimes. Have patience with yourself. As you say there is no shame in feeling whatever we are feeling, and we can always turn back to God and His perfect peace. No matter how long it takes He will be there, arms open wide, waiting.
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Aaamen, my brother! I have learned that God doesn’t even mind it when we are angry at Him, although in His great love for us, He doesn’t want us stuck in that angry place. As we express the anger and release it to Him, and He allows us to feel our feelings with no condemnation, it’s amazing how that actually resolves the anger and in its place comes peace and strength instead.
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