Chaos. Order. More Chaos. More Order.

After MUCH sweat, agonizing and gnashing of teeth, we made it through several weeks of packing, 2 days of loading our worldly goods onto a truck (no, we don’t have that much stuff, and don’t ask me to name the moving company), a day of closings in attorneys’ offices and then 2 more days of unloading (again, don’t ask). We are making a nest in our new, but yet very familiar, surroundings.  We moved away from Hartselle almost exactly 15 years ago.  Since we lived in this town for 30 years, reared our children here, owned a business on the main highway and taught in the public schools, we know the shortcuts and basically where everything is.  Some things have changed, but happily many things are still the same.  Whew.  At this stage of our lives, “FAMILIAR” is a welcome word.

It is a relief to be in a place we understand when we get in our car and drive out of the driveway, but it’s the chaos INSIDE that has been a challenge to my senses this past week.  Poorly-labeled boxes and boxes of need-it-now items that are buried somewhere in the garage have frustrated me.  My body and my psyche crave order.  Yes, I CAN live amidst turmoil and messiness, but not for long.

Multiply this pile of boxes by 100, and you get a more accurate picture.

At least, I was able to find some sheets for these beds, right?

All of this, as you might suspect, has sent my mind on another spiritual journey.  I needed to be reminded that God is a God of order and not chaos.  He created order from complete chaos back in Genesis chapter 1.

Genesis 1:2 “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.”  And then God started speaking and order was set in place — light, heavens and earth, day and night, seas and dry lands, plants, animals, etc. etc.  Just by saying the words, the earth started to take shape and make perfect sense.

In another place in Scripture, a storm was raging, and the disciples were terrified.

Matthew 8:23-27  “Now when He (Jesus) got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. ²⁴ And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. ²⁵ Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

²⁶ But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ²⁷ So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”  Again, just by speaking Jesus brought order out of chaos.

1 Corinthians 14:33a-40 — “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace . . . .but everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”

With hard work and determination, we can eventually bring order to our living spaces and our physical environment.

Who knows where my Tupperware is buried, but at least this Pearson grandmomma has a kitchen back up and running.

Ahhhh. As long as there’s a place for grandchildren to come and visit, life seems much better.

But only God can bring order to the emotional and spiritual chaos of our lives.  I love these verses.  They are speaking to me this morning.

Matthew 11:28-30 — “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Do you need “rest for your soul” this morning?

Are you looking for spiritual order in the middle of your inner chaos?