Embracing Chaos...

Life is FULL of disruption. Live for any amount of time on this planet and you will encounter circumstances that interrupt your life - whether positively or negatively. Disruption is a fact of life. So I wonder why so many of us walk through life with a chip on our shoulder expecting that life should be smooth and obstacle-free? Could it be we really don't understand the benefit of chaos?

As Christians we often forget that God saved us to change us. He did not rescue us from our dungeon of despair and wickedness simply to mark our name off some checklist. No, He saved us in order to change us. More specifically, He saved us so that we might be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29). There is only One who brings justification for sins before God and his name is Jesus Christ. Therefore, as believers in Jesus, the more we reflect Christ in our lives, the more we please God. This process of change, however, requires embracing chaos.

Just so we will be on the same page when we are talking about chaos in the context of change, let me share with you what this process of change looks like:

1. Old Routine (how you do things right now that aren't reflective of the character of Christ - i.e. pride, addiction, etc.)
2. Awareness of the need to change
3. CHAOS
4. Practice
5. New Routine

The key turning point in change is chaos. Quite often when God challenges us in a particular area of thinking or behaving, we resist such a challenge because it seems like our lives get worse. You know what? It usually does! This is chaos.

God may convict you about your secret sexual sin and you realize you need to do something about it. You meet with a counselor or join a support group. You begin to seek out help for your problem. You confess your sin to your spouse and maybe a few friends. You know in your heart you are doing the right thing, but your life and relationships seem to get worse. Your spouse lashes out at you for your self-centered, secret lifestyle. Your friends don't call as much and seem aloof when you are around them. You feel more agitated and on edge than usual. Because of all this discomfort you begin to believe that "recovery" isn't working, and soon return to your old habits, only now you sink deeper into secrecy and despair.

The truth is that such chaos, frustration, and "disruption" is precisely the road to change and freedom. We falsely assume that because the road got difficult that somehow we aren't on the right path. But Jesus even promised that the road would be tough, "In this world you will have trouble..." (John 16:33) What we must keep in mind, however, is that such chaos and trouble are not present simply to create distress in our lives. Chaos and trouble are opportunities to trust God and peel away another layer of ourselves that hinders the character of Christ from reflecting on to others. This is the "benefit" of chaos.

Is it hard to see chaos as a good thing? Sure it is. It is only natural for us to resist difficulties and disruptions in our daily lives. But constantly resisting chaos, as if you deserve a life without difficulty, will only prolong your process of change and delay your enjoyment of walking by faith. God really is good, and he really does have what is best in mind for us. And His best almost always includes seasons of chaos.

Embracing chaos,

jonathan