Have you ever decided to do something new and the FIRST thing that happens is pushback? All you want is to find calm in the midst of your chaos, yet resistance rears its ugly head and appears as a test to your commitment.
Let me ask another question. Have you seen the StarTrek episode with the Borg? “Resistance is futile,” the Borg tell Captain Picard. The enemy appears unstoppable yet the victor proves them WRONG! So does the Word of God.
Resistance is designed to block your process & pursuit of progress.
Ever experienced that? Yep, me too. I decided to participate in the #Write31Days challenge. Each day in October, bloggers and writers from around the world write for 31 days. Many have a theme for their writing challenge. Since the tagline to what I do is helping others find calm in the chaos of life, the theme “Finding Calm in the Chaos” seems natural.
Until resistance arose! Why is that? Because testing comes…
Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Genesis 22:1 (NIV)
God tested Abraham. Have you ever thought about it that way – that we should anticipate testing?
Are we truly committed to our decisions? Or will we waiver, wallowing in indecision only to be distracted or diverted from our desires, decisions and destiny?
So I reply, “Here I am.”
Whether you are single with work pulling at you, a stay at home mom with littles pulling at you every.minute.of.the.day, a working mom with work AND home pulling at you, an empty nester with college kids AND aging parents pulling at you or a BUSY grandmother with ALL THAT pulling at you, this course is designed for YOU to be able to say to God, “Here I am.” And experience calm in the midst of all that pulls on and at you.
It’s a treasure hunt we get to go on to FIND something new each day. Are you ready to delve into scripture from His Holy Treasure Chest? We are going to take a condensed look for 7 days into finding calm – think of it as a challenge or a mini-course – and it is my free gift to you.
You will find it’s full of words that fill you with His hope and His calm – the peace that passes all understanding.
Finding = the act of a person or thing that finds; discovery, especially by scholars or scientists; the results of an investigation; a conclusion reached after examination or investigation; a statement or document containing an authoritative decision or conclusion.
Calm = the absence of violent or confrontational activity; tranquil, quiet, soothe, serene, peace, undisturbed, at rest, chilled out, steady, free from stress or worry.
Are you liking this treasure hunt already? Did you feel a sense of calm settling in?
Chaos = in disorder, confusion, disarray, disorganization, mayhem, bedlam, pandemonium, havoc, turmoil, tumult, commotion, disruption, upheaval, uproar, maelstrom, jumbled.
EEK! Evoking calm in the midst of our chaotic lives is the thread for this trek, not entering OR entertaining an environment of chaos.
These topical threads will weave a tapestry over the next few days representing our daily lives and the many things that pull on the ends, frequently splintering, splitting, and fraying our attention span…and our attitude.
[Tweet “Our goal is to modify the propensity to pounce on a problem. #FindingCalm”]Would you like to retool and refocus, rethinking your responses to so many things? I say yes to many things…
Family, Finances, Fun, Funky Stuff, Faith
Spouse, Kids, School, Homework, Sports, Cheer, Dance, Band
Work, Promotion, Part-time, full-time, overtime = no time
House, Health, Food, Walk, Workout
Wow, our list just goes on and on, endlessly…
So do the words from God’s Word…
Quiet, Be Still, Busyness, The Power of Prayer, In His Arms, Obey, Do Not Worry, Faith
These are a few of the threads we will loop through the loom as we begin finding truth and the calm that’s already there. We have simply overlooked it far to often.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2 (NIV)
As we settle in, may we allow God to soothe our souls abundantly with every word we see and say.
[Tweet “Join the 7 day Finding Calm In The Chaos Challenge.”]The first challenge is scheduled now to celebrate what would have been Kyle, my “forever 20” year old son’s, 30th birthday on August 27th. The challenge starts whenever you enroll.
Remember – this challenge is my free gift to you to celebrate the gift God gives each one of us – His peace.
[Tweet “Ground your world in the Word of God before you hit the ground running.”]
Finding calm is a fantastic topic. We all need that! Thank you for your words of encouragement, Susan! They bring calm in the midst of a rush of things to do!
For health reasons, I am searching for calm and God is good to provide it for me. I just need to appreciate it!
This is my cup of tea right here! I lived my whole life not allowing myself to really guilt-free getaway, and I paid the price for it. Inwardly over time of course until it poured out in all the wrong places at all the wrong times. God is so good, and helped me to realize I am not a bad person or sinning when I say “no” or when I have to make time to get refocused. Being a teacher/leader it seems one really needs this time anyways to prepare! Thanks so much for sharing this, Susan. It is a great and much needed challenge for today’s moms especially.
What a great challenge and one my heart earns for. I love that we can find truth in the calm that’s already there.
Yes, send calm here! the problem is even when it’s calm here, I don’t know how to relax and enjoy it. My body is so used to the striving and doing.
Thanks for this challenge!
“Ground your world in the Word of God before you hit the ground running…” Oh how I just love this quote. Too many time we rush off without really waiting on God. Enjoyed the post and pinned it to share with our Living Our Priorities community.
Stopping by from Grace & Truth Link Up.
Don’t we all need to find more calm! Thanks for sharing this, Susan. I jumped too quickly into chaos yesterday, and once I was in neck-deep, I hardly knew how to get out. Thankfully the quicksand subsided fairly quickly, but I’d rather not have jumped in to start with. Grace!
I just may take the challenge; however, my life isn’t chaotic at the moment but who doesn’t need an extra dose of CALM?
I try to remind myself it’s the resistance that builds spiritual strength and stamina, but it’s never what we want at the moment, is it? :/
What a great challenge, but more than that a beautiful tribute! Praying God gives you peace and joy in the process 🙂
Susan,
I will be praying for you on the 27th….that is not only Kyle’s “forever 20” birthday, but my daughter’s 29th. Your testimony still brings tears to my eyes. So true that when we set out mind on things of God….there’s always push back. Oh how the enemy wants to set up obstacles. Joining with you in breathing in the Truth of God….calm, peace, stillness, comfort, absence of chaos, all things good and true.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Finding calm is a topic almost all of us could use! I’m tempted to do the 31 day challenge but I really think it would add too much to an already busy schedule. We’ll see…
Thank you so much for your link up Susan. Have a blessed weekend.
Patti
So true it can be a battle when we make a decision to do something God is calling us to. We do need to be intentional about finding that place of peace in him. I did Write 31 Days last year and it is a big commitment and a lot of work, but also very worthwhile. I was planning not to take part this year and then God dropped a topic into my mind that doesn’t seem to be going away so it looks like I might be after all 🙂
I love this challenge, Susan! Finding joy and calm in the chaos is my jam 😉 I really love how you defined each of the words because sometimes we throw words like calm and chaos around and forget how meaningful they really are.
God does test us…and He allows Satan to throw all kinds of roadblocks and unpleasantness our way. Look at Job! But He is the answer to staying calm and focused. Keeping our eyes fixed on the prize. It certainly is a challenge. I just celebrated what would have been my “forever 32” year old daughter, Kimberly Joy’s, 40th birthday. Her heaven day is in 3 weeks, September 13.