I awoke thinking it was just another normal day—until the dimly lit reflection of cellophane draped across my bedroom walls reminded me that I was still living in chaos.
Sylvia Plath wrote in The Bell Jar, "I felt very still and empty, the way the eye of a tornado must feel, moving dully along in the middle of the surrounding hullabaloo." That is exactly what chaos feels like—stillness in the middle of a storm swirling all around you.
On Monday, I returned home from a trek to Missoula only to discover that it looked as if a violent desert windstorm had swept through my home. Grit was everywhere—as if a haboob had hit. In Phoenix maybe, but not Montana!
But God never meant for us to live in chaos. Scripture reminds us in 1 Corinthians 14:33 that, "God is not a God of confusion but of peace."
In spite of how we feel, handling chaos means casting our anxieties on Him, seeking His guidance, and trusting His presence and control. Instead of avoiding chaos, we are encouraged to find peace by clinging to His promises.
One way we do this is by taking every thought captive and practicing thankfulness. That night, I was grateful for at least one thing—there wasn’t sand in my bed.
Singer Mike Weaver of Big Daddy Weave knows something about chaos. He has walked through seasons of grief and loss, including the passing of his brother Jay in 2022. Yet he continues to minister through music, sharing hope with others even as his own heart heals.
Their song I’ve Just Seen Too Much captures it perfectly: "Even now, I couldn't tell you that I'm okay with everything. All I can tell you is I've just seen too much."
My chaos pales in comparison to the tragic events of September 11, 2001; the deaths of Covid-19; and the present day wicked deeds that cause heartache. Mine will come to an end in a few weeks once the painters finish sandblasting and staining my log home. Peace will return to the atmosphere—and to my soul. Just as we know that our Lord and Savior is the only one who can bring inner peace.
Isaiah 54:10 offers a final reminder: "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed," declares the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Chaos may feel all-consuming, but it does not have the final say. God’s love is steadfast, His peace unshakable. When the dust settles—literally or figuratively—we will see that He was there all along, holding us steady in the storms of life.