Beauty from Chaos

Don Miller | Sept 28

As you go through life, there are parts of you that break. If you started out healthy as a kid, you realized soon enough that upcoming Youngers have more energy than you.

There was a fun study done before the turn of the century where they had professional football players following 5-year-olds around a playset. The 5-year-olds easily out-stripped the pros and left them exhausted. “Why is it when mom is tired, I have to take a nap?” is the complaint of not a few kids. I remember well those dismal days when I had to lay down—though I wasn’t the slightest bit tired—and take a nap. I grumped and complained. Today, when opportunity calls, I’m down in a happy flash!

As we gain wisdom…and age…we realize more how much God had to put every piece together to make us just right. He covered the details. Snazzy eye shutters that close on command. Teeth that look nice, fit together perfectly (for some of us!) and do all the right things. Skin that constantly fixes itself and even colors itself to keep it from being burnt by the sun. Hair that tints itself nicely till the tinters break after half a dozen decades or so. And brains that can search through files to reach any event of millions in colorful detail that are tucked somehow in a mushy mess between our ears.

How’s everything work? Some things we know; other parts we have no clue about–wonderful mysteries, gifts of our Maker, who is way, way smarter than the whole bunch of us.

Get the conclusion here: There are forever some areas of our lives that are out of sorts to some degree. There are always some harbors of crazy, some islands of chaos–even in the most beautiful seas. Sometimes it’s with us; other times it’s with beloveds we care deeply about. There are always some things we’d love to see grand and wonderful miracles in.

The beautiful thing is that the God who created the beauty in this life, whether in tropical fish, seashells, stunning flowers, exotic birds, wonderful experiences– and all the rest– started with a mess and created beauty. The earth was formless and void. Then the beyond-infinitely powerful Spirit of the Living God went to work. Inch-by-inch, He manipulated every corner of crazy and chaos until it all was very, very good.

The same ever-living God knows your pockets of chaos, the things that sting when you remember them, the tears in your bottle that have never been dealt with. He knows every bit of the obstacles facing you, keeping you from what stirs you to the depths. He even remembers every bit in astonishing detail, even when we forget. All this is a beautiful, beautiful thing.

The Maker continues to say, “Stand still and see the salvation of God on your behalf.” –2 Chronicles 20:17 He still directs, “Be silent and know that I am God.” –Psalms 46:10

Trust in new degrees the Maker of the little ones…and the puppies, the kittens, and the redwoods. He knows all the details, all the sighs, all the dreams and all the desires in mind-boggling detail. And He’s a whole lot smarter than us on our best day… and a universe stronger.

Work and love well… and rest well. But let there be an anchor of cheerful smiles as you face the new day. Know that “My God who makes stars by speaking really, truly has all of everything in His sights and in His hands.” He excels at creating beauty and wonder out of chaos-es and our less-than-the-bests!

“The earth was formless and void…and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waste and emptiness (Hebrew) of the waters.”

And after His working…”And God saw all that He had created, and it was VERY good.” –Genesis 1:2…31 wow.