What is chaos to you and how do you rise above the calamity that is center to its very existence? Better yet, how do you really define chaos? If I may paraphrase such a word for definitive purposes I would depict it as – ‘a state of complete disorder and confusion without stability.’ In the grand scheme of things since all is not perfect and Murphy’s Law will prevail more often than not, I’m sure one may find something in their daily lives that may constitute things in complete disorder or in a confused state, even. But let’s examine this picture a little closer as it pertains to disorder and confusion. Despite my attempt at defining chaos, I feel that there are other aspects of it that may be in place to change the perspective of the word. We all have situations in life that dictate levels of disorderly conduct and an addled sense of malady. I think too, that the whole gist of it all is being able to address the problems that have caused us alarm, and not allow them to hang over good familial order and accomplished value. The strength of any man or woman is to be able to balance the issues, discuss them reverently with their families and associations, which would entail a concerted effort to change the effects of something gone wrong. Is it then, some sense of reasoning to make wrongs right in the eyes of those suffering?

On a personal note, I can only look through my own mirror and see that indeed something is amiss. Over the last six years change has challenged controversy to a new level with me. My health hasn’t been good and I’ve succumbed to pressures trying to cope with financial issues. Responsibilities change, the inability to deal with workplace woes were persistent and other situations alluded to the ebb and flow of instability. I watched as family members dealt with problems in their midst and was powerless to intervene or offer some applicable solutions. I came to a point that in order for me to get over the hump was to see how I could lessen the blows and persevere to weather the storms. In the interim the enemy gave more false illusions to further his mission to seek whom he may devour. However, in the midst of all of these things the Lord challenged me to look at chaos from a new realm of understanding, and in the process He gave me a useful acronym for CHAOS:

Christ’s
Hospitable
Amenities
Offering
Solutions

I thought about this for awhile and sought some type of meaning to decipher what I needed to apply to my everyday mandates. It’s all about allowing a higher order to give hope even among the suffering that cause chaos to be much more than it should be. Imagine yourself asking what then is truly God’s ‘hope’ and why should that be so important to how we live our lives for soluble gain? From what I’ve experienced I can tell you that changing my overall perspectives on the word chaos gave me the opportunity to see the bigger picture and to focus on those things that became so relevant to my survival…the strength to deal with the peace, presence, provision and power of Christ like never before became clearer. Instead of the lamentations that were so habitual, I discovered character traits of confidence experiencing C.H.A.O.S. as associated with the aforementioned acronym in the intuitive spirit of my mother. Why? Because I know what she went through nurturing seven children with ONLY the Grace of God. I can go to Mom for things like this:

1. Her foundation that I came to know growing up based on God’s Word
2. The way she uses the spiritual application of the Word on a daily basis
3. How she waits ever so diligent for patience to gauge what needs to be done for prayer
4. The manner in which she bears and is always sharing her fruit with others…and,
5. The meaningful way she lives her life with a strong sense of purpose

These are the five character traits that I liken to dealing with chaos for blessed assurances. But the key is to put them into practice, and for application to have meaning. As such, I’m able to see beyond the present suffering to be in place to be more attuning to channel truths adequately. That bigger picture I alluded to earlier is not about me and you, but about Christ living in us to the extent that others see the reflection of Him as we walk. This is even during times of triumph as well as times of devastation. Since He is in the midst of our suffering we need assurances that things will get better, where it’s possible to acclimate any circumstance with confidence – confidence that everything He brings into our lives are for our good and His glory. I have the confidence now that He will never leave me or forsake me.

Okay, you’ve heard all this before you say…but are the application steps in place for works to be more than lip service? I’ve purposed in my mind to have the confidence that nothing can ever separate me from the love of Christ and to strive to be a better person for it. With this type of confidence, you too can walk through all the suffering while bearing spiritual fruit as long as you apply initiative. A confident life in the midst of chaos cannot go unnoticed, but putting yourself in the path for assurances should be your goal. Others will undoubtedly ask about the source of your confidence, and what a perfect opportunity to share the goodness of the One who enabled you to bear much of that fruit! God wants to transform our lives into a reflection of Him so that we can impact the people in our immediate vicinity for eternal purposes, and sometimes He chose suffering to accomplish that purpose. So if your life is in a state of complete disorder and confusion, take a look at chaos from God’s perspective. Change your look on chaos. Commit yourself to developing of a confident person without arrogance. Pray for a platform where opportunity to bear and share the spiritual fruit would be beneficial to someone else. I implore you to begin to apply the five character traits of a confident person and hold onto your dreams! You will be assured a position to experience the peace, presence, provision and power of Christ like never before. Faith will do that for you!