Amidst the chaos, somehow there’s peace.
God chooses to use the world around us and the people around us to show us his love. He could do it however he wanted – he’s God. If you were the almighty Supreme Being and could do anything you wanted, what would you do? He chose this. I don’t pretend to know why he does the things he does or why he chose to create us. Some things I just accept that he is the only thing that is God and he did things because he chose to do them and I am creation, not the mind of the creator.
But I’m thankful I get to exist.
God uses people. When I’m crying, God uses my husband’s arms to hold me. Sometimes he uses a friend. When I’m sick, he uses the doctors that he gave knowledge and wisdom to heal me or at least make what’s wrong bearable. When I’m sad and just can’t remember the point of it all, he sends my children to say something silly or sweet and remind me what really matters is those I love who love me. When I’m lonely, he sends a message in the form of a friend’s text or call. When I feel like I’ll never be enough, he reminds me I already am and my name is written in the Book of Life – the end result is already done. I can never fail.
God uses the world. God knew I would love flowers and he scattered them everywhere. He planted coffee beans because he knew I would love coffee every morning – and it would make me think of him. He knew I would love beaches and oceans and palm trees – and when I need it most – I always get to go to places where I can soak it in. If you love the sun, the stars, the moon, the sky – God knew you would and put them all there. Whatever you love, it’s not random that it’s there. Mountains, snow, hills, rivers…whatever it is, God put it there, thinking of you.
It sounds sappy and so untrue when it’s so much easier to be cynical or sarcastic, self-deprecating, angry, bitter, or depressed. It’s so much easier to think God doesn’t think of us and doesn’t care and that the world is random madness and random beautiful. We don't have to try to feel these things - these thoughts and feelings come naturally, but they hurt. It takes daily work to overcome them - and action on our part to be able to believe it's all true.
Because if it was all true, we would have to live like it. We would have to be grateful, forgiving, kind, patient, loving, accepting, and joyful. We would need to be obedient and care and be vulnerable and generous. We would need to be so many things that are hard. We would have to trust and let go of our own desires, dreams, and outcome – or go for scary dreams and passions. We would have to choose God’s perspective over our own. It would mean that God chose us with purpose – created each of us intentionally – for something. It would mean there is a bigger purpose and something or some plan larger than our own and we have to do something about it every day. If God thinks of us and gave us the Bible, then he means what he says and he requires things of us.
But it also means that God is still here. He puts people in our life to encourage us, teach us, strengthen us, and love us. Even though there are people to do us harm, he places helpers along the way. We are never alone. He showers us with gifts of people, places, and things. We don’t have all we want, but we have what we need. In his grace and lovingkindness, we do have some things we want. All the things we do have – everything that is not falling apart – that is God’s grace, love, and mercy.
In the midst of chaos, somehow there’s peace. Peace is perspective. There is good news in this world along with all the bad. Good things happen, even with the bad. As much as there is wrong in this world, there are things that are good and right.
Look around you with different eyes and notice the blessings and the good and keep a gratitude journal about it all to change your perspective and have peace.
Write “My heart is breaking because _________, but God says (verses from the Bible). The people and things around me that I am grateful for are _____________________________. And I know that God is still here.”
Write “______________ is falling apart, but (list things and people you’re grateful for) shows me God is still here and his word says (verses from the Bible).”
Write “I am so scared about _________________, but God says (verses from the Bible) and I see(things you are grateful for) and I know that God is still here.”
Write “I’ve lost ___________ but I still have (things you are grateful for) God says (verses from the Bible) and I know that God is still here.”
Write “I feel (list your negative feeling) but God showed me these things today (list things you are grateful for) and his word says (verses from the Bible that contradict your feelings).And I know that God is still here.”
Feelings and circumstances will tell us one thing, but we choose to believe God’s truth over our feelings and circumstances. We believe his promises. We trust that our eternal life holds all we’ll ever need and this life is temporary. We trust we have eternal life through Jesus Christ because God says so. He is in, around, under, above, through, before, and behind every circumstance and every person. When you’re whole world falls apart, Heaven stands. And God is still here.
Revelation 22: 12-13 (NLT) Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
John 16:33 (NLT) “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
- Tara Goddard
