The dictionary defines the word Chaos as “complete disorder and confusion“. Have you ever felt like this word aptly describes your life at certain times? Our lives are in a state of complete disorder and confusion sometimes and we don’t always know how to deal with these situations when they happen. As long as you continue to live on this Earth you will be routinely faced with these kinds of chaotic situations in your life and how we face them is what determines where we are in our faith as Christians.
James 1:2-4 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” These moments of chaos, when we are faced with trials, are what help us develop as Christians. How we deal with these types of situations is determined by how much we trust God to take control.
We see the disciples faced with a similar situation of Chaos In Matthew 8:23-27 “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”.
What is interesting about this story is that Jesus was right there with the disciples when the storm came and the disciples still panicked and woke up Jesus fearing that they were going to drown. Jesus replies by saying that they did not have faith that He was going to save them. The thing to note here is that the disciples did the right thing by going to Jesus to save them but Jesus knew that they were afraid even though Jesus was right with them. If we were in the same situation as the disciples how would we react? Would we stay calm and trust that Jesus will take care of the situation or panic and cry out to Jesus for help?
The only way to truly stay calm in the midst of chaos in your life is by understanding that Jesus Christ is right there with us in that very situation just like he was with the disciples in the boat in the midst of the storm. We can choose to panic and be filled with fear and anxiety or we can remain calm and know that Jesus is right there with us just as he said he would. Isaiah 41:10 says “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” God is always with us even when things go crazy in our lives. He just wants us to trust in him and put our faith in him during those tough times.
God can provide peace for our minds in the midst of chaos if we only trust in him completely. We can choose to be afraid and live in fear and panic or we can remain calm knowing that the God of the universe is with us in the midst of the craziness in our lives. Jesus himself promises us that we will have peace in John 16:33 where he says “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”