Beauty in Chaos

As I mentioned in my last post "The Dreaded 'C' Word: Cancer" one of the areas I'm working on in my life is finding beauty in chaos.  The wheels have been turning inside my head as I try to wrap my brain around this new concept for the Type-A personality that I am! {smile}  As I struggle within, I thought it would be nice to share with you my friend: my struggle & my learning.

The first verse that comes to mind when I say the words "Beauty in Chaos" is Isaiah 61:3:
"and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor"

It's amazing to me actually, how God has the keen ability to take something so ugly it was burned to ashes, and still make it beautiful.  I think of Psalm 66:10-12: "For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance."

Rarely, in Bible times, did God's people achieve abundance, or the Promised land, without pain, suffering, hard work & lessons learned. What makes me think that I am any different? Learning to find Beauty in Chaos means that even in the midst of my valleys, my hardships, my pain & my frustration, God gives me the ability to reach out to Him & in looking at His face in these moments-I see absolute, perfect beauty. Job says, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face." Job 13:14-16.  If anyone knew pain, this man did & yet he still chose to put his hope in God.

I'm working on these areas in my life:
1) Remembering where I am, why I'm here & Who placed me here. Doing this allows me to put things into perspective, set my priorities straight & focus on the things God's called me to do right here, right now.  Serving the people I love the most, with love & kindness, shutting out the lies of the enemy & pressing forward, not looking back.  Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

2) When I get overwhelmed with the chaos around me, reminding myself that I'm in the Refiners fire & that it is here that I will learn & grow the most. Realizing this empowers me to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit & not rely on my own strength or understanding.  Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;"  It keeps me focused on my innate need for Christ & my inability to handle the chaos without Him.

Will you find beauty in chaos with me? For some of you, you're gifted with the ability to do this naturally & from you I am learning! {smile}  Thank you for your example & if you have any words of wisdom, I am listening.

Have a beautifully chaotic day friend! ♥

Love,
Satin