Maneuvers - No. 17
Find Peace
in the Chaos
Is your life noisy, friend?
“Noisy” can mean a lot of different things. Non-stop busyness. Never-ending to-do lists. Screaming kids. A demanding job. An angry spouse.
It can also mean the noise in your heart. Do you constantly worry about your rebellious teenager? Do you obsess over every sin or mistake you make? Do you stress over meeting people’s expectations?
It’s hard to find peace in the middle of the noise, whether inside or outside. The distractions that chaos brings make it difficult to find the moments of stillness we need with Holy Spirit to receive that peace.
But what is stillness? Some people confuse it with self-care or relaxation. And while they can be very similar, even good things like pursuing your creative hobbies, hanging out with friends at the beach, or going out to see a movie aren’t the same thing as diving into the stillness of Holy Spirit’s presence.
In that stillness, we can pause and search our hearts and discern our emotions and beliefs. We can hear his voice.
Do you want to hear his voice today, friend? Do you want to find peace in the chaos?
If so, we invite you to join us today in listening to our heavenly Father. He has a message specially crafted for our hearts today. So let’s lean in…
01.
The Message
“I am right here. In all the disruption, in all the noise. I often invite you into silence, into stillness. For I want you to remember who I am and that I have everything under control. But sometimes, I know, peace feels difficult to find. A moment of rest, or a place to catch your breath, feels like something that slips by you, again and again. It is short-lived. It does not stay.
“And in this world of movement and creativity—which can be good things, even while they may be a distraction for you from the best things—I am present with you. Even if finding stillness feels challenging, I am never hard to find. Even in chaos, you can find me. Even in a period of disruption, I bring peace to your mind and your heart.
“I ground you. I fill you. I want to be your companion. I want to be your constant friend.
“The problem is that the noise all around you makes it difficult to know your thoughts. And even more challenging is the task of being in tune with your emotions. For instance, how are you feeling now? Do you know?
“Look deeper. What is it you are thinking and feeling? Can you trust that you know?
“And what if I asked you a different question: Do you like feeling the emotion you are feeling now? Are you comfortable with it? Is this how you would like to be feeling? For while your emotions are neither good nor bad, they do serve as pathways for connecting with me.
“When you are filled with peace, what is giving you that feeling? Or contentment? Or anger? Or resentment? Or forgiveness? Or gratitude? Or love?
“Let me help you tune in to whatever physical or mental or emotional state you are in. Take a breath. Whether it is quiet or noisy—within you or around you—let’s discern together what is going on in your heart. And then, keep pace with me as we walk. One step together. And then another. No excuses. No putting this off. For I never leave you. So, I tell you again, despite your circumstances, you can find me. For I choose you. I choose to be with you right now.”
02.
Listen
What’s going on in your heart right now? Does today’s message make you feel defensive, take a burden off your shoulders, stir up a curiosity? Whatever our emotional response is, let’s take some time to share it with the Lord. He wants to hear from our hearts.
03.
Think
“To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. … And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:6b, 27, ESV).
1. In what ways has it been difficult to be in tune with your physical, mental, or emotional state?
2. What noise or chaos (internal or external) is distracting you from tuning in?
3. How can you purposefully set aside regular time with Holy Spirit to do the inner work necessary to receive his peace?
04.
Trust
Chaos in life is inevitable. But it doesn’t have to control us or steal our peace.
When Jesus and his disciples were caught in a fierce storm (see Mark 4:25-41), the disciples were terrified for their lives. But Jesus? He was asleep. He found a moment of stillness in the middle of the chaos.
Can you put yourself in this scenario with Jesus? Start by taking a deep breath. And another one.
Close your eyes and use your imagination to see yourself in that tiny boat. The storm raging around you is the chaos and noise in your life, and each wave, lightning strike, and gust of wind is a specific distraction in your life that’s stealing your peace.
Behind you, you hear Jesus pull himself to his feet. You look over to see him walk toward you, his eyes full of compassion at the fear you feel. He places his hand on yours, turns his firm gaze to the storm around you and commands, “Peace! Be still!”
One by one, the distractions die down. Each worry, fear, and lie that was targeting you is now gone. All you see is a calm sea and a bright sun… and Jesus.
Take in this moment of stillness with him. Look into his eyes. What do you want to say to him right now? What is he saying to you?
Now, let’s open our eyes and write down in our journals what that conversation with Jesus looked like. If there were no words, describe what you felt, the worship that rose from your heart.
Let’s pause a moment to reflect on the stillness around us. As we open our hands, let’s surrender, worship, and pray…
05.
Pray
Thank you, Jesus, for calming my storm, for holding me close. Help me see the noise around me, not as my master, but as something that must submit to you.
When the noise around me is so distracting that I can’t even discern my own thoughts, help me quiet my heart. When I’m overwhelmed with feelings of loneliness, worry, fear, and insecurity, show me how to find moments of stillness, search my own heart and listen for your voice.
You’re the only one who fills my heart with peace that lasts. Nothing else can satisfy me like your presence does. It’s all I want. Will you take me deeper?
You call me your own, your beloved, your own flesh and blood. Guard my heart from the lies the enemy would tell me. Teach me how to tune out the noise and hear your voice clearly.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
