Peace in the Chaos

 

Everyone’s definition of peace is different.  Peace can be resting by the brook.  Peace can be sitting in your favorite chair in silence.  Peace can also be driving in the car down a beautiful side road.  Chaos also has different interpretations.  Chaos can be changed plans.  Chaos can be yelling and screaming around you.  Chaos can be traffic when you expect a smooth trip.  Peace and chaos cannot go hand in hand, can they?

In walks our verses for today.  If I was asked what my top ten verses are, my go-to verses when life gets hard, Philippians 4: 6-7 is on that list.  To me, it is the perfect meld of chaos and peace, all centered in the One who can walk us through that challenge.  The beauty of us as humans is that we are all different – not one of us is the same.  Not only does that reveal itself in how we share our talents, but also how we experience life.  Therefore, when chaos enters our life, it will look different to each of us.  Typically, chaos will bubble up in our lives to anxious moments.  Chaos does not enter our lives alone.  It enters with Jesus!  Through prayer and chatting with the One that knows us best, we acknowledge that although we may not understand why this chaos is happening, we know that He is present and can help us.  This is our opportunity to turn the chaos over to Jesus and ask for His help.

When we are able to do that, truly turn the chaos over to Jesus, in walks peace.   Peace also does not enter our lives alone.  It enters with Jesus!  In those moments of chaos when the world is screaming at us, peace may seem to be the last thing that will wash over us.  Yet, when we give it to God, He showers us with the blessing of peace.  Jesus’ peace is different than the brook, the silent chair, or the beautiful side road.  For those of you who have felt this in your lives, it is an incredible feeling.  As this scripture shares, it is incomprehensible to understand or even to explain at times.  But you know it when you feel it.  It is the moment that you know Jesus is in your corner, providing you the breath you needed to take, the calming that your heart needed, and the weight lifted off of your shoulders.    It is the peace that transcends all understanding.

Friends, chaos, and peace are extreme opposites.  We may find that in the people we meet – we could not be more opposite than the person that we come upon.  Just as God bridges the gap between chaos and peace, He also bridges that gaps found between people.  God is the common denominator – for we are ALL God’s children, made in His image.  Have simple faith that He will be there for the peace and the bridge among all of us.

Video that complements this post:  Peace in the Chaos

God, thank you for being our peace in the chaos.  May we remember to go to you always when chaos enters our life and bring us peace, the peace that passes all understanding!  Amen.