Disorder

“A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.” Job 10:22 I’ve been thinking a lot about this word: disorder. This is the dictionary definition of it: “illness: a medical condition involving a disturbance to the usual functioning of the mind or body; a lack of order: a lack of systematic or orderly arrangement; An ailment that affects the function of mind or body.” And yes, those of us with addictions, disorders and compulsions certainly feel its gravity, don’t we? That’s part of why we reach outside, for something external to be our answer to pain, issues and life itself. Alcohol, drugs, food, sex, toxic relationships, shopping and gambling are just a few avenues. But eventually, these avenues produce death. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12 And, despite what we’ve experienced or have been taught, that is NOT God’s Will for us. This is more like it: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 1:2 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 But often, order is what it hinges on. Good health, prosperity and peace all need a semblance of order to them. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40 Order’s not to stifle or punish us; it’s to bless us. God knows best. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 And in it, each of us needs to remember we are not in control, as much as we’d like to be. But that’s a good thing. And once we stop fighting that good thing, we can point our lives toward the things we desire instead of merely coping with the pain of chaos and disorder. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Choosing our ways over God’s ways is a choice. But what if it’s not a great choice? What’s if it’s a choice for disorder? After all… “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” James 3:16 God has given us free will and the power to choose: “But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:14-19 Choice: we have it. And that applies even to our perception of our challenges, seemingly riddled with all kinds of chaos. Who’s ultimately in control- God or us? Even if we feel helpless and out of control, God has us- and is leading us. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalms 37:23 However, do we stand in His way? Again, God’s thinking and leading are higher, better than ours. “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right hand, and whenever turn to the left.’” Isaiah 30:21 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye.” Psalm 32:8 “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” Psalms 40:5 And it’s all because of His great love for us… “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, ‘Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.’” Jeremiah 31:3 “We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 That trumps everything! With God, nothing’s too hard… “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27 That includes you- and any appearance of disorder or chaos. Right now, in the storm, in the mess, God is there, working! “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” John 14:12 “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” John 5:17 But we can choose to NOT rebel against what God is trying to do. Again, concerning order, there’s two approaches: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40 Or… “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” James 3:16 We choose, even viewing the realities of our disordered situations. We can always choose to accept- or reject- God’s help. The famous “12 Steps” focus on this issue repeatedly: God. “We admitted we were powerless over a substance - that our lives had become unmanageable.” “We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. “We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.” “We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” “We’re entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.” “We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.” Let’s choose Him, even with the disorder we’re facing. It’s not too late- and it’s never too hard for Him. Will we choose to believe that? Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse