Theorizing about perfect peace, understanding what it looks like and what it’s based on, is certainly worthwhile; we ought to be clear about a goal before we pursue it. But attaining a settled confidence in God, where He actually enables us to endure hardship without becoming unsettled and anxious (Php 4:6-7), is not as easy as it might sound.
God promises He will keep us in perfect peace when our mind is stayed on Him, because we trust in Him. (Is 26:3) Perfect peace is what God does in us in when we stay our mind on God. What does this look like?
Staying the mind is evidently a type of grounding (Ep 2:16-19), characterized by deep roots (Mt 13:21), an abiding, a manner of living based on who we are, not an option or preference we resort to from time to time.
And this mindset is certainly not passive, lazy or irresponsible, just expecting God to do everything for us while we sit back and relax. In practical terms, it seems to involve preparing for hardship through disciplined, rigorous training (2Ti 2:3), so we know how to respond in a crisis (Ge 14:14); it implies diligence in developing skills and capabilities necessary to manage conflict (Ps 144:1, Pr 27:12), and knowing what we bring to the table when we’re tested. (Ro 23:3)
Evidently, since we cannot control the results of our actions, this mindset also requires letting go of the outcome of a potential conflict (Es 4:16), knowing that if we’re engaging in God and with God (He 13:5-6), pursuing His purpose (Ro 12:2), then He is working all things together for good. (Ro 8:28)
Clearly, achieving perfect peace is uninteresting apart from a real test, without being challenged and pushed out of our comfort zone. When everything‘s going our way it’s easy to be calm and peaceful. It’s when we’re threatened that we find out whether we really have peace or not.
And when trials do come, expecting all will go conveniently without due diligence is presumption that will very likely not end well. (Pr 22:3, 27:12) Wisdom is where we must begin. (Pr 4:7)
Staying our mind upon God then seems to involve a persistent training of our mind to focus on God’s faithfulness as we abide in the will of God, while also disciplining ourselves and being grounded within ourselves such that we know ourselves and are at peace with ourselves, so we know what we are capable of based on our training, and grounding ourselves in God so that we know how to trust Him for the outcome when we’ve done all we can do. (Ep 6:13)
Perfect peace then looks like inward stability in the midst of turmoil, carrying ourselves with confidence and composure when we are threatened. It is produced by God in us when we stay our minds in Him, when we are grounded in ourselves and we are grounding ourselves in God.