chaos can be your friend

You remember a time, I’m sure, when you felt that everything in life was completely out of control and you were desperate, ready to explode with rage. Or was it a time when you felt so confused and disorganized that nothing made sense and you felt like you were going crazy?

Chaos. We have to get rid of him, right? Establish some order; bring back a semblance of structure to things…no way! The ability to live with it, in the moment, and follow through with it, is the essence of character.

Do not misunderstand. Endless and constant chaos is not what I’m talking about.

I suggest that if we develop the ability to reside in chaos, which brings discomfort and a level of mental pain, we can grow much more and in much more dynamic ways than if we choose the same old sober ways.

Can you bear a little pain, the pain of the current chaos, with patience? The Bible, as a spiritual book, speaks of patiently enduring the painful and chaotic. It is mainly a spiritual norm. Most religions speak of the same attitude. It’s about tapping into the resources that are already within you. Resources of the Spirit. These resources have the potential to grow like you wouldn’t believe. But it’s true. Nurture them and make them grow in patience, enduring the pains of the present moment.

This is probably the most empowering spiritual principle there is. Just think, if you can deal with this kind of adversity, you can deal with anything! It is really wonderful. In the Bible the Apostle Paul says that we are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us. He leads us through chaos if we let him. The more people come against us, the more we have the power of God to ‘endure’ us.

Elsewhere in the Bible, James urges us to “Count it for pure joy” when faced with trials of all kinds…why? Because he builds patience, patience, character and maturity in us. It’s that easy.

This is part of the purpose of life.

© Steve J. Wickham, 2008. All rights reserved worldwide.