Be still in the face of chaos

When you are surrounded by a world gone mad, it’s impossible to even know which way is up, let alone which direction is right.

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. (Psalm 46:10)

I took swimming lessons as a child (I was a Red Cross certified swimmer actually). And I remember one of the first lessons I learned was how to respond when you are in water over your head and can’t tell where the surface is.

You force yourself to be still.

See, whatever oxygen is left in your body will make you float. That’s the funny part about swimming; your body is a natural flotation device. The more oxygen is in your lungs, the harder it is for you to sink.

But when you panic, when you flail and thrash and kick, you disrupt the natural process of how your body will float. You drive yourself deeper into the water. You release more oxygen. You sink faster and wear yourself out.

But if you can master your panic and fear and be still, your body will tell you which way is up. You just have to endure long enough to find it.

The world is in chaos. Have you noticed? How could you not notice? Watch the news for five minutes. Skim the headlines on your Google search page. Listen to the radio or a podcast. Our world exist in complete turmoil.

I do think it’s worse than it’s been, to be honest, but I also think we have more access and more information now than we used to. So if some catastrophe happens on an island in the middle of the ocean, we hear about it instantly.

It’s overwhelming. The bad news keeps coming, and it feels like it increases with every passing day. Evil legislation. Wicked people roaming free. Threats against our family and friends and our freedoms.

Chaos breeds anxiety. When you are surrounded by a world gone mad and turned upside down and inside out, it’s impossible to even know which way is up, let alone which direction is right.

Chaos is going to try to drown you. That’s what chaos does. That’s what the enemy, the lord of chaos and confusion, does. And on your own, you aren’t enough to fight him.

But you aren’t on your own.

Be still.

When chaos overwhelms you, be still.

When anxiety tries to rip the air out of your lungs, be still.

When it feels like you’re sinking in discouragement and depression, be still.

Be still and let God show you which way to go. Don’t thrash and flail because in your panic, you might miss His leading.

He will always make a way out. He will always show you which way is up. You just have to endure a little bit longer.

Be still.

Questions for Reflection

• Where does the instinct to panic in the face of danger or chaos come from?

• Why is it likely that you’ll miss God’s leading if you’re panicking?

• How is one way you can choose to be still today?

Weekly Memory Verse

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