Does your life sometimes seem out of control? I admit that mine does all too often. Sometimes I’d give anything for a little bit of quiet and a short time of peace in the midst of the chaos. As usual, I find the answer in the Bible, when I take time to look. This time, I didn’t have to go further than the first book of the Bible. Genesis 1:1 says that God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty. Commentators say that the deeper meaning of the original text describes a state of utter confusion and desolation. God proceeded to take that chaos and, with His word, He put everything in perfect order.

Life will always be chaotic and out of control until we remember that it is God Who is in control and it is He Who creates order. My life is always put in order when I put it in His hands.

The prophet, Isaiah reminds us, when he speaks God’s word in Isaiah 43:2, “I will be with you when you pass through the waters and they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the flame, you will not be burned.

You'll notice that God doesn’t say that we won’t have to go through trouble. He does say that He will be with us and that the trouble won’t overwhelm us.

The formula for letting God take control is in Isaiah 30:15. It says that our salvation is in repentance and rest. Our strength is in quietness and trust.
Repentance – returning to God and to His will.
Rest – calmly resting in God’s assistance – This is the act of not striving to solve the problem.
Quietness – a peaceful state of mind
Trust – confidence in Him
These aren’t the words that I usually link to solving problems and handling difficult life situations but God says that this is where I will find my salvation and my strength.

There is deception in chaos. It makes us believe that we can’t stop the fight long enough to quietly, spend time with God. The true remedy to any out-of-control life is stopping the race and turning our full attention on Him. When I do that, the chaos and confusion fade into the supernatural peace that comes only from God.


Too Busy Not to Pray
by Bill Hybels
at Amazon.com