The Order of Chaos

 

a tangled tapestry

"The world is a place in which God creates order, but humanity has a tendency to create chaos."

~Rabbi Sacks

🕊 Ever feel beat up by life?  Like you're on the merry-go-round and it won't slow down enough to exit?  Having the thought, "If one more thing happens..." running through our mind, wondering what we would do?

I remember as a mom of young children often just reacting to the cycling sickness, hectic schedule of activities, never-ending decisions of what to make for dinner, and constant barrage of discipline.  It was Monday, then in a blink it was Friday. 

🕊 Or an even quicker blink, the kids were babies and now they're grown.

As a retired grandma, I have a second to breathe and think about what's going on around me.  There's still the chaotic events of the world, the cycling of sickness and death, and  the decisions to make about how to invest your time, but I think God wants to remind us to breathe during it and sit at His feet.

🕊 Lord, what do we do with it all?  How do we respond in love to the chaos of the world and our loved ones and neighbors?

And, of course, He answers, telling us first and foremost-

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

🕊 His Word reminds us that He is the God that makes order out of chaos-

"God is not a God of disorder, but of peace..." 1 Cor 14:33

If we have any doubt in our minds at all about God and order, consider the order of the days of creation (Genesis 1).  Or just glance at the detail in the books of Exodus (the Temple construction guidelines), Leviticus (the Laws and consequences given) or Numbers (detailed instructions on how the Israelites were to live).  

The earth is the exact distance from the sun to sustain life.  Our hearts miraculously pump millions of gallons of blood throughout our bodies.  Our brains know how to decode and retrieve information.  The miracle of a baby developing in our wombs.  The way cells develop, the tides respond to the moon's cycles, and leaves turning colors in the fall.

🕊 God designed all these intricate systems that have run for centuries, so why would we doubt He can control situations in our lives when we seek Him? 

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly.  He delights in every detail of their lives." 

Ps 37:23

He sent His only Son Jesus over 2000 years ago to die for our sins, and in His life, death and resurrection He fulfilled  over 300 Old Testament prophecies (hundreds of years later). 

He has preserved His Word to help guide us through the chaos.  The Bible itself was written over a 500 year span by 40 authors over 3 continents.  It has survived multiple efforts to scrutinize it, destroy it, and ban it. 

🕊 Our God can weave the sometimes chaotic mess of our lives into a beautiful tapestry of testament to His goodness and mercy if we believe and ask Him.

✙ Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being the author of order so we can trust in You to bring it about when our lives sometimes seem so out of control.   TUrn our chaotic world to You and cause our hearts and minds to seek You.  Deepen our roots of faith and make our minds heaven-bound.  Help us to direct others to You, the One who establishes peace.  Amen.