Conquering Chaos

Chaos—pick a day, and you will likely encounter, at minimum, a trace of it. You can plan for it, have your ducks all in a row, but invariably, one of those ducks will have a catastrophe or make another duck mad, and suddenly that well-laid plan throws life into utter mayhem—complete disorder and confusion. 

The apostle Paul knew a little about chaos. In 2 Corinthians 11:24–27, Paul tells of his sufferings, things that happened while doing the perfectly noble act of spreading the gospel: “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”

Paul surely expected some persecution along his journeys. Not everyone wanted to hear his Good News. But shipwreck? In danger from rivers and bandits and Jews? Oh, my! In danger on land and at sea? Paul must have thought at some point, God, give me a break! A human can only stand so much!

But Paul revealed a dynamic trait when he boldly stated in Philippians 4:12–13 (emphasis supplied), “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Whether it comes from within or from an outside source, the trouble with chaos is that we’re pretty much unable to control its conditions. Thinking back to times when I’ve been overwhelmed, I believed myself all along to be in charge. I thought I had learned from the previous overwhelming situations all that I needed to know and do to be prepared; all systems were in check and regulated. But, then, wham, chaos threw a curveball!

Though I’ve found that it’s impossible to control the chaos, I’ve learned we can function amid bedlam by simply keeping on keeping on. You don’t give up!

You must learn to grasp the danger and look for the opportunity in upheaval. You must learn to be energized by pushing through the unexpected, no matter how exhausting it may be. You must learn to gain a greater understanding of what’s transpiring during chaotic times. Chaos should never be an excuse to avoid a situation but considered a character-building moment, a time to rise to the occasion and become a better you. 

Knowing that chaos is possibly just around the corner shouldn’t keep us in bed with the covers pulled over our heads, preventing us from doing daily tasks or pursuing dreams and ambitions. We can create chaos by putting off responsibilities, procrastinating, or resisting to pursue a mission. Don’t allow fear of the unknown to halter your actions. Just know that the only constant is change, oddly, often through a time of chaos. Just keep moving, pushing through, don’t stop. Time only feels like it’s standing still; you will get through it. 

But, you say, I might be able to learn to expect chaos, but it’s certainly not possible to celebrate it or to have a good and godly attitude when it rears its ugly head. That would be unrealistic, impractical, and even foolish. But I say, if you roll with the punches and anticipate the unknown by being as prepared as possible, you can whistle a happy tune and pretend as if you knew chaos would eventually show up.

Another tip is to be sure not to go it alone. Having a group of friends helps relieve the panic. We can face most things in life when we hold hands with others with whom we’ve connected; it will likely even draw us closer. Going through stuff does that.

Lastly, remember that God is the supreme chaos controller. In Psalm 93:2–4, the Psalmist declared, “Lord, you have reigned as King from the very beginning of time. Eternity is your home. Chaos once challenged you. The raging waves lifted themselves over and over, high above the ocean’s depths, letting out their mighty roar! Yet at the sound of your voice they were all stilled by Your might. What a majestic King, filled with power!”

Give Him control of the unexpected situations in your life. 

Chaos is certainly uncomfortable. Uncertainty can be utterly unbearable. But with good habits, sound systems, and a godly attitude, you can conquer the sting of chaos.