Pastor James Conley

Total Chaos

This being the month for frolic and play because of those little guys that run around causing havoc, I thought it would be fun to talk about chaos.  I can’t think of one single person that absolutely loves it, maybe for a short time while watching a bunch of 2-year-olds running around in a small indoor room while it rains outside the whole day but… probably not much more than that. 

Chaos in the dictionary says it is “behavior so unpredictable as to appear random, owing to great sensitivity to small changes in conditions.”

I get the idea “a behavior so unpredictable”.  Could that mean a behavior that we create ourselves?  Or maybe someone could create for us?  Yes, on both accounts. 

I already mentioned that 2-year-olds running around aimlessly creating chaos does something to me…it’s a “run” response. “I can’t handle it and I don’t want to be in this place.”  That’s easy enough to escape unless it’s your job and you get paid to do it. 

When others bring chaos, we have choices either we “run” or we “work” through it.  It’s easy to run but why do we run?  Most often, we like to be in control of our lives and our environment and when chaos or unpredictable behavior shows up, it causes stress in our lives which we don’t like  because we can’t control it.  So, when we run, we become relieved because now we have control back. 

But what if we have to live in that chaos?   How do we work through that?  It must start with prayer.  You can try to do it on your own or you can ask God to give you the grace to work through it.  Try seeing chaos for it’s face value—who’s causing it and why?  I don’t have enough paper to write down all the answers to that or a psychology degree, but I do know that when we put our control  behind us and start looking at the action from God’s viewpoint, maybe we can get a glimpse of the real root cause of the chaos.  It could be any number of reasons:   someone has a mental issue or maybe it’s someone’s way of trying to let others know they need help or dozens of other reasons.  And even if you do get a glimpse of the true reason maybe you can’t fix it, but you will know how to pray and to encourage that individual(s). 

The other dictionary definition of chaos is “the formless matter supposed to have existed before the creation of the universe.”  That’s interesting, chaos was a formless matter before God stepped in to it.  I’m glad God didn’t run from it, but He saw something of value in it.  He saw possibility.   What is the definition of possibility?  “A chance that something might exist, happen, or be true.”  God took the chaos and made something beautiful out of it. 

So, whether you create your own chaos or someone else creates the chaos you are having to live with, take the time to find out what the root issue is and ask God for His wisdom to help you create something beautiful out of it or to see ways to help someone else work through it.  If it’s a mental issue that could be more difficult, but praying for that person is the greatest gift you can give to them and perhaps a smile or hug.   Also remember this “kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body”.  Proverbs 16:24

Remember that chaos can be good…it could bring you closer to God and to His revelation of what’s causing the chaos in your life or someone else’s.

Enjoy the chaos in the newsletter, it’s just for fun but you can pray for me if you feel led to.   May God bless you all always,

Pastor's Wife - Vicki