Finding Calm in the Chaos

by Susan Mead, in category Faith

Quiet. Be Still. Finding Calm in the Chaos

#Write31Days – Day 2
Quiet! Be still!

Quiet! Be still! Oh, how many times have those very words come from my mouth as kiddos pinged like a pinball through the house and rambunctiously ran into and over everything in their path? Oh, that we were at the park, so they could play, joyfully?! Have you thought that too?

Or to be truthful, did the chaos consume me more often than I care to admit? You’ve been down that road too and don’t want to venture there again? Me, too.

Did I speak to my children with calm assurance and authority or did I let frustration and panic pepper my words? Was I finding calm and my purpose was to restore a semblance of that calm? Or was I so uncontrolled in my response, I added fuel to the fire instead of fending off the fiery darts of disruption the enemy delightedly tossed my way?

Hummm. Good questions. Let’s dig into the Treasure Chest God gave us with His Word. Yep, the Bible! We are going to hunt down a better way – God’s way – to respond.

[Tweet “Renewing our minds daily, finding His calm in our chaos…”]

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:39 (NIV)

Do you want to know what those words mean in the original language so we can learn to apply their power in our lives, too? So we too can be quiet and still?

Verse 39. – And he arose – literally, he awoke (διεγερθεὶς) – and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still (Σιώπα πεφίμωσο); literally, Be silent! be muzzled! From the Pulpit Commentary.

[Tweet “The will of God preceded the Word of God and it was done-even in a violent storm.”]

Simple…for Jesus!

Yet His authority is in us to do even greater things than He. Unbelievable to our finite, human minds, yet true.

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 (NIV)

Thank You, Father God, for Your perfect plan to restore peace on Earth through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for the resurrection power that resides in each one of us.  Help us, guide us, hold our hands as You resurrect the power that slumbers in us, because we remember and we believe!

St. Augustine said “when we allow temptations to overcome us, Christ sleeps in us. We forget Christ at such times. Let us, then, remember him. Let us awake him. He will speak. He will rebuke the tempest in the soul, and there will be a great calm.”

So with calm authority, speak to the disruption(s) in your life, with the power of Jesus Christ in you, knowing it is not your kiddos, your husband, your boss, your disease, your whatever you are battling, it is the enemy tossing out his disruption to distract you – from your purpose, your passion, your pleasure, your peace, your God.

And there will be great calm.

And there will be great calm.

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37 thoughts on “Finding Calm in the Chaos”

  1. Susan,

    Thank you for such an edifying post. The quote from Augustine was quite sobering.

    A friend of mine would always say, “wherever there is chaos, Satan is at the root”.

    Jesus is such a beautiful example of living life in a non-chaotic way. He never rushed to do anything. He even told us to come to Him and learn from Him for His ways are gentle and restful.

    Blessings,

    Karen

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  3. I love how you say it’s easy for Jesus and I almost laughed and said — yeah exactly! Then you went on with that kicker … His authority is in us! Easy for Jesus, yes … but He wants it to be easy for us also!

  4. I am so encourage by your beautiful words. Thank the Lord we can cry out to Him and ask Him to still the storms in our lives. He is wonderful and majestic. I am praying for the storms to still in my life tonight. 🙂

  5. How happy I was to see that you were the link ahead of me at Small Victories! I have 4 kids and boy do I hear you on this one!! I love hearing a verse in a new applicable way, especially when I can visualize it. I picture when I am tempted to yell at my kiddos telling my anger, “Quiet, Be Still!” I love everything about this post. Thank you!

  6. Oh wow what perfect timing. I’m about to make a major change in my life and though I show the world that I’m calm, I’m absolutely panicking inside! So perfect for me to find this. I need to stay calm also on the inside in the face of this chaos.

    1. Beautiful, Lux! God is good like that. Come back every day in October, as that is my commitment, to write 31 days in October. May it bless you. Hugs, Susan

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  9. Thank you for unpacking that verse. To think that same power is in us! What a great 31 Days topic you have. Happy to visit from Grace and Truth.

  10. This is good stuff, Susan! Great message you’ve shared here! Great to link-up with you today! Hope you’ll link-up with me at my blog hop today as well! Peace and many blessing to you, Love! 🙂

  12. St. Augustine said “when we allow temptations to overcome us, Christ sleeps in us. We forget Christ at such times. Let us, then, remember him. Let us awake him. He will speak. He will rebuke the tempest in the soul, and there will be a great calm.”
    Such true words you have chosen to write and quote today my friend. You know first hand about calm in the chaos!
    Blessings to you always!
    Christy

  13. You’ve got some great advice here, Susan! It’s so easy to get caught up in the moment. I’ve been learning to step back and think things through before I open my mouth (the results are always better if they’re filtered through prayer!).

    1. Anita, Yes they are and oh how I am STILL working on this one. And how much better life is when prayer is the filter. That is so well said, girlfriend. Thank you! Hugs, Susan

  14. I love this, “whatever you are battling, it is the enemy tossing out his disruption to distract you”. I need to think on this truth today, thanks! It is far too easy to focus on the chaos.

  15. Be muzzled! Now there’s a verse for me. We used to have to muzzle our Australian Cattle dog when we’d take her to the vet because she was not very nice. Not having a snout makes for a different kind of muzzle. Good lesson for me to remember today!

    1. Mary, I need one for M E too often…And you have a visual! Picture me with that on…and LAUGH! Lord, You have a great sense of humor! Hugs, Susan

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  18. Susan we’ve been stuck inside for over a week now with all this rain. Were you in my kitchen this morning?!?!? Sweet Jesus, we need some peace and calm in this place (and running, we definitely need them to run outside;). Heading to the trampoline park and keeping these words in the forefront of my mind today. Thank you!!

    1. Meg,
      You didn’t see me??? I so wish I had been there with you to scoop up one or two kiddos to distract them and redirect some of that pent up power! Hugs, Susan

  19. This post is such a combination of peace and power, and it brings to mind Paul’s words in Romans 8:11: If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give live to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
    The power of Christ is so much more than we ever truly assimilate!
    Thanks, Susan, for another encouraging word!

  21. Susan, too many times as a young mom I let the chaos around me cause me to erupt. I wish someone had told me back then how to be still and rely on the soothing presence of Jesus to calm the storms. Now that I know the importance of retreating into His presence, I can’t get enough of Him! Love to you, friend.

  22. I love how you put this, Susan. “Speak with calm authority in the name of Jesus.” Yes! Amen and Hallelujah! Great word today, sweet friend.

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