Finding Peace in the Chaos

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills–From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made the heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:1 NKJV

As homemakers, we prioritize peace in our homes–sanctuary. It’s our job to ensure that our family comes home and sighs with relief and not frustration. While it is in our control, we will promote serenity and relaxation. But what happens when it’s not in our control?

This past season, our household has been anything but peaceful. Back in July, our kitchen flooded. What we thought would be a quick and easy fix turned into a now-going-on-four-month project. Suffice it to say we hit a few roadblocks with the insurance adjustor and the contractor’s busy schedule (he’s been wonderful trying to fit us in, though), not to mention the shipping delays.

So, picture a bare-bones room with a single washbasin standing in the middle of it and a cook-range plugged into the wall. Imagine most of our kitchen items planted on top and underneath of our dining room table, our fridge in our dining room, and boxes full of food storage items blanketing the floor in our family room. Lastly, our front deck spent most of the summer months littered with the old cabinets and countertops, when it was meant for barbecuing and blowing bubbles. Our house is in total chaos. And we’re definitely feeling the effects.

I’ll be honest: I’ve had more than one emotional breakdown over it. How am I supposed to do my job when so much of it is out of my control? How am I supposed to cultivate a peaceful environment when it’s shrouded in chaos? I’m a failure at homemaking.

And then the pity party (or parties) ended. It’s true that it’s been hard. It’s been stressful. I’m ready to have it finished. But I tend to forget something in the midst of chaos. I tend to let my emotions cloud my spiritual vision. It’s like I try to cling to the chaos in hopes of controlling it, rather than surrendering and letting the Prince of Peace hold onto me.

As a believer, I don’t have to let my circumstances dictate the state of my heart. That doesn’t mean difficult circumstances aren’t very real and very trying. But it means that they aren’t what my focus has to be on. I have something greater. How easily I let myself become distracted.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

It’s hard to bring my requests with thanksgiving when my requests feel so heavy. What am I supposed to say? “Thank you, God, that my house is a total disaster?”

You can probably guess the answer is “no”. Instead of focusing on the hard things (which doesn’t necessarily mean “bad” things), I can focus on what I have to be thankful for.

I can be thankful for the ways we’ve been able to make things work.

I can be thankful that our house is still warm with the weather turning colder.

I can be thankful for the work God is doing in my family through this challenge, that we still have full bellies, for the men who have come to work on our kitchen and have been so careful to do things well and to our liking.

I can be thankful for my goofy toddlers, who love opening the new cabinets and looking inside and putting their toys in them. I can be thankful for my stoic and steadfast husband, who has been so upbeat and patient about the whole thing; especially in moments when I’m ready to blow my top.

I can be thankful for my Savior who loves me, who took on my sins and died on a cross in my place (1 Peter 2:24), who defeated death and the grave by rising again on the the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-5), and who promises He will never leave or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).

That’s the point. When my heart and head get jumbled up in all the crazy happenings and mishappenings around me, all I need is to turn my eyes back to Him. He gives peace like no other (John 14:27), even in the midst of the hard things.

I think back to the hard times we’ve gone through. There have been a few over the years. And I remember how the Lord carried us through them. And He will carry us through this one too.

So how do we cultivate peace in the midst of chaos? We keep our minds stayed on Him, and ask the Holy Spirit to bring His perfect peace to us in any circumstance. Then we trust that He will.

“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”

Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

God bless you and yours,
Morgan