Finding Hope in the Chaos

Through a Glass Darkly Inspired by Scripture

Finding Hope in the Chaos

Hi friends,

How do we find hope, or better yet, maintain our hope when the world around use seems hopeless? As I was preparing to write this post, so many thoughts flooded my mind. It was like God was pouring out examples from my life and truths from Scripture into my mind. The difficult part for me is figuring out how to put all these brain bubbles into a cohesive post that touches on everything God has filled me with over the last few days.

Taking a quick step back, you all know brain bubbles, right? Think of an old comic strip (for those of you who are old like me and remember those—Calvin and Hobbes are the BEST, just saying). Well, those white, cloud-shapes over above the characters’ heads are what I refer to as brain bubbles—only I generally have about a dozen of them open at a time as is the case with this post.

I’m finding it harder and harder to focus and I think it’s because we’re living in a time of chaos, or what feels like chaos around us. So much has changed since COVID hit. We’ve gone from shelter-in, nearly everything closed, and remote working to being more open, adhering to social distancing, wearing masks. Each week we start out not knowing what that week will hold, what changes might be made. So how do we navigate this new ‘world’ we’re living in?

As I thought about it, God brought a Sunday school lesson from children’s church to mind. My girls are grown, so you can imagine how long ago this activity happened, but it’s something that has stuck with me over the years.

Dawn (our children’s minister) stood at one end of the room, the student stood at the other end blindfolded with obstacles between him and her. A second person stood behind the student to make sure they didn’t trip or fall over anything. Dawn told the blindfolded student to follow her voice and he or she would make it safely through the dangers between them. Several students got nervous and stopped listening, running into a chair, etc. They stopped trusting her voice, stopped listening to her and they got lost.

This story from the Bible I got in my inbox today from YouVersion was a great reminder of a time someone took their eyes not off of Dawn, but off Jesus.

When Peter saw how strong the wing was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
Matthew 14:30

“You are not alone.

Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water next to Jesus. But after a while, the storm grew stronger and, overwhelmed by a situation he couldn’t control, Peter began to sink.

Immediately, Jesus saves Peter. But then He asks one question:

“Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

When storms in life happen, it’s easy to act like Peter. We can become so fixated on the problems around us that we lose sight of our Savior standing beside us.

But even when hope seems lost, Jesus is near. His constant presence is our confident assurance that during life’s storms, God is, and always will be, in control.

Whatever you’re going through right now, be encouraged: Christ is your anchor, He is able to do the impossible, and He will not let you drown. Hold onto hope by fixing your eyes on Him.”