“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:4-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

2021 has just gotten started and already so much has happened! The trials that began in 2020 have carried over into the new year. A new year always renews hope for the future, but the reality is that some things have followed us. The pandemic along with national and global unrest continue. What do we do with what is, especially when we wish it were not? How do we turn down the volume of the chaos that is the background music of our lives right now?

One thing God has helped me to realize is that, whether I am aware of it or not, the current world and national chaos is always playing in the back of my mind. Whether I am conscious of it or not, it is taking an emotional, mental, physical and spiritual toll. There is an undercurrent of tension as I wait for events to play out on the world and national level, as well as in my personal life. It’s taking a toll on you as well, Dear Friend. Do you recognize the effects?

You may be more tired and unfocused, something I realized that I was experiencing this week. In a time of prayer, God helped me to connect that to the larger picture. You may feel an unexplained, low-level anxiety or a more pronounced level of anxiety than is normal for you. You may be feeling tension somewhere in your body without really knowing why. You may be more irritable and touchy without being able to explain it. 

If any of this sounds familiar to you, then I encourage you to “be with what is in God’s presence.” I remember reading that phrase in the book Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton. It has helped me a great deal in learning how to process my own life. As you sit with what is, allow God to connect the dots for you, to help you understand yourself and to give you guidance in how to sort out all that is happening. Unprocessed emotions manifest themselves physically and relationally. did you know that? I hope that motivates you to take some time and let God help you!

So, what do we do with what is as we learn to process with God? What do we do once we recognize how the backdrop of chaos is affecting us?

First, Remember that God began a good work in you. As a believer in Jesus Christ, it helps to remember that God is the one who initiated my relationship with Him and to readjust my priorities to match His. At the end of the day, what really matters to me should be what matters to God, right? What matters to God is that other people be restored in their relationship with Him through Jesus Christ just as He has done for me. What matters to Him is the Gospel. When I remember that it helps me to step back from the whirlwind of activity and the maelstrom of words that assault me every day through social media and news outlets. What matters most is not who said what or whose fault anything is or whose plan is the best. What matters most is that the message of the Gospel is taking precedence in my life in how I speak and act. Anything else must be subordinate to that. 

Then, as I step back, I can ask God to continue His good work and give me His perspective on the events that are unfolding. God, how do you see this situation? Father, how do You see this person that I disagree with? Help me to remember that what they need most is You, not to change their mind. When they receive You, the Holy Spirit will do the work of transformation in them. Help me to trust You with it all!

Remember that the Good Work is the Gospel. Keeping God’s perspective in the midst of the chaos isn’t easy.  It helps to remember that not only did God begin the good work in me, He is the one who continues to do the work — in me and in other people. In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, the good work he was referring to was their commitment to partner with him in the Gospel through their actions and their giving. That good work was one of character and faithfulness because of their commitment to Christ. Paul was confident that God would help them to keep the Gospel as their priority, regardless of the trials they were facing, until the day when Jesus Christ returns and the proclamation of the Gospel is no longer necessary. May God do that same good work in you and me!

Remember that He will complete the Good Work and help me to be faithful until the end. The chaotic soundtrack that is blaring in the background of our lives can easily drown out all the good of the past and all the hope for the future. We need God’s help to remember that this is not all there is. This turbulent time will conclude, along with every other, and our hope of one day being with Christ forever will be fulfilled. Isn’t that the foundation of our Christian faith, that this life is not all there is? God will be faithful to help you and I stand firm to the end, Dear Friend. We can count on Him! Let’s fix our eyes on the unseen and eternal rather than the seen and temporary. (2 Corinthians 4: 17-18)

Dear Friend, silencing the soundtrack of chaos isn’t easy, but I encourage you to separate yourself from it and set yourself apart for God’s purpose. His purpose and priority will forever be the Gospel and the salvation of many. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10, Matthew 18: 11). That was His priority. I want that to be mine as well. Let the Gospel be your anchor in the storms of uncertainty and unrest. In the end the only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6). Let the ocean roar of God’s love drown out the background buzz of disorder, confusion, fear, anger and hate. Peace, Dear Friend, His peace. 

Key thought: In the midst of the chaos, God’s good work continues. 

A Scripture to consider: “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:4-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A YES challenge: Take time to “be with what is” in God’s presence. Remind yourself that His love remains constant. What does God show you about how the current chaos is affecting you emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually? Submit this all to Him and ask Him to help you to process it. 

Prayer: Father, whether I like it or not, the world situation, the pandemic, the unrest in our nation, are all affecting me in ways that I am not always aware of. Forgive me for the ways that I have tried to avoid facing that reality. I realize that this background buzz of chaos has sometimes drowned out my awareness of You, Your love and all that is important to You. Help me to bring it all into Your hands. I trust You to reveal what I need to know so that I can process it with You. I trust You to continue to do Your good work in me and in the world around me. Amen.