What to do in a World filled with Chaos

"Though the mountains fall away and the hills be shaken, My love shall never fall away from you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the LORD, who has mercy on you. O afflicted one, storm-battered and unconsoled, I lay your pavements in carnelians,your foundations in sapphires; I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of jewels,and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the LORD; great shall be the peace of your children." Isaiah 54:10-14

The world seems chaotic these days. Hate seems to permeate the air. Social media has enabled us to dehumanize. It reminds me of road rage. We think because we can’t see the person in the car, they are not human, we curse and gesture at them, having no idea of the life in the car. The same thing is going on with the computer, we have no idea of the life on the other end, so we curse, we dehumanize, we speak hate.

Remember that what you say matters, even if it is on the internet;

"A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:35-37

Remember also to always seek truth. There is righteous anger, and there is wrath. Know the difference;

"Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil." Ephesians 4:25-27

Ask yourself this question in each situation, “What does love ask?” God is love, so you are asking what He asks of you. It is easy these days to get caught up in a spiral of distress or despair. Division everywhere causes you to dehumanize your fellow man. We label them, unable to think anything but wrath and hate. How do we stop this? What does love ask?

When I feel myself getting this way, I stop and strip it down to simplicity. God asks me to love the person right in front of me. God asks me to deal with the situation in front of me. Sometimes the best way to do that is to step away from social media. Put the phone down. Call a friend and have that interpersonal relationship. Hug people. Human touch is important, not in a sexual way, but in an agape love way. I hug people everyday. It makes me see them as humans loved by God and makes me know myself as loved too. If hugging isn’t your thing, then find a way to connect that is. Make sure you pray. Prayer and quiet calm the heart.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7

The only person I can control is myself. I can spread God’s love and joy, or I can descend into the chaos. There’s nothing the devil would like more than to see each of God’s Christian children descend into chaos. This is a time to put total trust in God. Abandon yourself to him. Let Him totally steer your ship. He can calm your heart when a storm is raging around you. If you keep your eyes on Him, you can have that peace that surpasses all understanding, and a faith that can move mountains.

A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” Mark 4: 37-41