Calm in the Chaos

I was reminded that the Lord gives a peace unlike the world gives

Several phrases have become common jargon over the years to describe the discipline of finding the “Good Stuff” in the midst of not-so-good times. Perhaps you’ve heard one of these over the years: There’s always a silver lining…You gotta look for the ray of sunshine through the clouds…There’ll be a light at the end of the tunnel…etc. Whether or not you’ve heard these phrases or others like them, the point communicated is a beautiful reality that seems to be “right on time” every time! In these past few months of uncertainty surrounding a pandemic, economic downturn, shelter-in-place mandates, the new masked society, hurricanes, love-bugs, and mosquitoes, there have definitely been moments of outright chaos thrown our way. May I share with you one instance in which God brought calm into my chaos? Thank you!

As a husband, father, pastor, and school teacher, there are multiple tasks and situations for me to handle simultaneously almost all of the time. If I am practicing what I preach, then I am living life and handling all of these from a position of joy and peace coming from the overflow of my personal walk with Christ. But being the flawed human being that I am, there are some instances in which I fail to do what I know I need to do, and thereby end up frustrated, tired, and ineffective. (Romans 7:15) (If anyone can identify here, please comment “Amen” so I know I’m not the Lone Ranger in this!) One such instance occurred just recently, and God used a high-tech reminder to help me get back on track.

The school year was delayed and different. A hurricane wreaked havoc on our area leaving us without power in some areas for nearly a month. More help was being requested than there were resources to go around. School was shut down, people were frustrated to the max, and my usually-wide shoulders began to buckle. Out of desperation really, I did the only logical thing I knew to do to regroup and get a handle on it…I went to the woods…Partly to look for deer sign and partly to look for a sign from the Lord! Were there other things to do? Absolutely. Could I have been more productive helping someone in need? Probably. But I have learned over the years that if I keep doing the stuff that outwardly seems right but I am inwardly not where I need to be with the Lord, NOTHING is right. So to the woods I went.

Now to the high-tech part. Somewhere between my house and the woods, my phone in my pocket took a screenshot with the help of my backside and our Allen Parish potholes. When I took it out to mark a spot on the map, the picture above was the first thing I saw. This image brought me back to a certain place and time where I used that exact setting to speak encouragement into the lives of my people in a video, and I could almost hear the Lord saying, “Practice what you preach, son.” In that moment, mosquitoes didn’t matter as I knelt in the still-storm-drenched-ground and allowed the Lord to bring Calm to my Chaos. I was reminded that the Lord gives a peace unlike the world gives, and I just wasn’t being an active participant in it. (John 14:27)

Perhaps you can identify. Maybe it’s time you asked the Maker to make you whole again. As he did for me in the midst of the mosquitoes that day, I know He will provide His peace to you if you call out for it. Chaotic times come – there’s no getting around that – but those chaotic times don’t have to throw our lives into chaos. Take a moment, steal a moment if you have to, and allow the Living God to bring a Calm to the Chaos. And on down the trail of life, when things have gotten hard, but God has made a way – mosquitoes and all – I’ll see you…in the Great Outdoors!