Chaos is a descriptor of many kinds of disarray, disorganization, and causes us dismay. Have you noticed that many of our negative words in English begin with dis-?
One of my books, “Life-Changing Water: from Chaos to Glory: a Metaphor Study” discusses the beginnings of creation, when God created something (lots of somethings) out of chaos, and ends with all the beauty of a perfect creation, the eternity of heaven.
When we are without God’s presence in our lives, we are in a period of drought. We cannot live triumphantly, everything is out of whack, and we are bombarded by difficulties. My Psalms in this section of the book are called: Annoyance, Impatience, Broken Relationships, Temptation, Addiction, Hurting
Families, Suffering, Loneliness, Deprivation, Depression, Physical Insufficiency, Aging, Mortality, and Sorrow.
Out of the chaos of sin and its resulting depreivations in our lives, comes the answer. The call of Christ makes all things new. He doesn’t remove the sting of mortality from us, but gives us the coping skills to find peace, calm, and a modicum of acceptance. He bears our burdens. This, then, is another step in our Lenten journey. We need to embrace the story of the cross, when God’s supreme sacrifice of Jesus to save us, to redeem us, gives us the peace that passes all understanding, the hope that all will one day be order out of chaos.
MY PSALM 320 CHAOS
Blessed Father, Creator of every good and perfect gift,
I praise Your Name and bow to Your majesty,
Humbly acknowledging that without Your strength,
I can do nothing.
Without Your guidance, I wander aimlessly
Like water creating its own channel, meandering.
Like the original chaos,
I could live as one with no focus, no path, no purpose.
Like the original chaos,
I could face eternity having never lived an abundant life.
But in Your grace, mercy, and love
You fashioned Your world in magnificence,
And before the world began, You knew me
And chose me to be Yours.
Thank You for redeeming me from chaos.
Guide my life that I may always understand
My rich privilege to know You through Your creation,
And all Your means of grace.
Keep me mindful of Your blessings, Sovereign Lord. Amen.
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