Orderly 'Chaos'

To be honest, writing has been difficult lately. Words seem inadequate and writing a blog sort of seems impossible as I'm wrestling and going through my own things. I just don't even know the "right thing" to write in this season. So, bear with me as what I'm writing I'm growing and learning in myself and as words might fall short. Either way, I pray that this would fall in front of the people who need it, and I'm including myself in that. I know God will equip me with the right words.

I was thinking about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego getting thrown in the fiery furnace for not worshipping the idols Nebuchadnezzar wanted them to. In Daniel 3:16-18 it says

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

They knew God was able to deliver them. They did not doubt God. They knew He was able and they had such faith that they said EVEN IF He doesn't save us, we still won't worship your gods. They knew God was able, but ultimately His plan was best, so even if He did not save them, it would not change their faith, loyalty, or attitude toward God. Let us be a people that says "God, You're able. But bring me rest even if You don't." Let us be in a position that knows nothing is too big for Him, nothing is too far outside of His abilities, but that when He decides not to do something even though He is able, that we would trust, believe, and see that is Him being faithful... even then, even now.

Secondly, something else I've been learning, recognizing, and seeing all the beauty in. Is that the three men were thrown in the fire and another man appeared in the fire with them. Does this not show us God's character even more? In the midst of our fires in life, He meets us in the middle of them. Not awaiting us on the outside to hose us down after, but in the middle of it, He is with us. Even in the fire, there is beauty. Even in the storm when the Jesus was sleeping and the storms were raging, the disciples were afraid. But what if He was enough for us? What if His presence, power, and ability was enough for you? I know, at times, we think He isn't enough. At times, we are the disciples, focused on the storms of life, the unknowns, the whys crashing all around us and we're screaming at God asking Him where He is. And all along, He was right beside us. We just never took our eyes off of the storm to notice His presence. His presence might not look like we want it to. We may want Him to quiet the storm, stop the fire, but often times, His response is not to stop the waves or calm the fire, it is to sit with us in it. What a Friend! What a Father! Sometimes He speaks, sometimes He just silently holds us as we cry or wrestle or question. Sitting with us through whatever the season is may not be what we want, but it might be exactly what we need. We must go through seasons to grow for the next season. We often allow our storms to silence God instead of allowing God to silence the storm. Yes, I said allow. It's a choice. Are we focusing on the waves or the One who made the waves? Control has been a big thing in my life that I just don't understand lately. I look at my life and it seems crazy. It feels chaotic and I wonder, how? How is God still in control when life is this chaotic? You want to know the beauty of that question? I see my life as chaotic. It can feel like it's falling apart. But God, He sees all the things, all the pieces, not falling apart, but being delicately, perfectly placed together. For my good and His glory. It might feel chaotic, it may feel like God gave up on controlling your life right now, but remember that the same God who created the universe with order, purpose, and intentionality is the same God Who is God over your life. He is a God of order, not chaos. When we rest in that, we can find peace in the unknown, the miscellaneous pieces, the pieces that seem like they belong to a different puzzle. He is with you here. In the fire. In the storm. In the orderly "chaos" that you might be calling life right now. There is order, purpose, and intentionality to your life and how He handles your life. Nothing is in vain. Nothing is meaningless. It has a place. It has a purpose. It will be used for your story and His glory.