When Life Feels Like Chaos!

Have you ever had a period in your life wherein it felt as if your life was filled with chaos? I have.  Life was going along at its normal steady pace. Everything seemed to be in its place. Everything was in order—just the way like it. Then suddenly the upheaval took place. My world—i.e., my life—was turned upside down. Nothing seemed clear. Direction was lost.  Darkness came like a flood. It felt like the tossing and turning would never end. Chaos had seemingly taken over. 

Thankfully, the chaos was not the end of the story. Eventually, it gave into the grace of God and the good and perfect purposes of God.  God stepped into the chaos of my life and brought new direction, purpose, hope, and life. He brought about new opportunities and took me to places I never would have gone otherwise. Thus I can say today, God truly brought about something good out of the chaos of my life. 

Of course, this is the way God has acted from the beginning. After all, it’s never been his plan nor will for us to live in the midst of chaos. Thus just as we read in Genesis 1 of how God spoke into the chaos of our pre-formed world—a world that was formless, empty, and dark (Genesis 1:2)—to create something of order and beauty and light, so too time and again, God steps into the lives of his people to bring about peace and beauty and pour out his life where there has been chaos. 

The psalmist put it well when we wrote the following: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Psalm 46:1-3 – NIV)  

The psalmist knew that in the midst of the chaos of life (e.g. mountains falling and quaking; waters roaring and foaming), God is yet in control. And he is yet with his people. Thus, we have no need to fear. We need not give into despair. We need not allow the darkness to swallow us or the chaos to win. Rather, we hold onto God as our “refuge and strength” and “ever-present help in trouble.” As we do, God has opportunity to work in our lives and bring about his good and perfect will for our lives—which is anything but chaos. 

Are you feeling as if your life has become a bit chaotic recently? Maybe the stuff of life is causing you to toss and turn. You might feel as if darkness is creeping in. If so, let me encourage you to look to the One who is above all the chaos of our lives. Trust him. Rely upon him. And know that he is yet able to dispel all the chaos and replace it with his peace, life, light, beauty and hope. 

Hear his words: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) 

Have a great day! 

- Pastor Tim Harris