“Take courage, Don’t be afraid.” But how do we use these times of turmoil to see Jesus walking towards us, because chaos is going to happen? How do we use the chaos to find Christ or some new life or renewal or something positive in the middle of something that is frustrating, fearful or sad? Chaos is an ordinary part of life. It works itself through every person’s life. Sudden disruptions, surprising sharp curves, unexpected losses, relentless uncertainty are the storms that test our faith. They unravel our carefully stitched patterns of comfort and ways of thinking. It is within the very eye of these storms that many find themselves asking age-old questions: Is there a purpose behind the turmoil? Can meaning be wrestled from confusion? And, perhaps most poignantly, can something positive (such as a point of creativity, inspiration, or alternative ways of doing things) be found within the chaos? Can you see Jesus walking on your rough waters, because no matter how big the storm, Jesus can walk through it? We need to be reminded to “Take courage,” and “Don’t be afraid.”

To seek the divine in the disorder is first to acknowledge the nature of that disorder. Chaos is not merely the absence of stability, but a state in which familiar boundaries dissolve, demanding adaptation and growth on our parts. Whether personal crisis, world events, or spiritual struggle, the soul is shaped by forces beyond its control.

Throughout the world’s spiritual traditions, chaos is not an enemy to be conquered, but a teacher to be listened to. The opening verses of Genesis describe the Earth as “formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep.” It is within this chaos that the voice of God brought order, light, and creation itself, and with the same voice said that it was “good.” In Buddhist philosophy, the transience and irregularity of life are seen as paths to enlightenment, inviting us to let go of attachment and discover clarity within the flux.

In the Gospels, Jesus often meets people in the midst of storms—both literally and figuratively. On a turbulent sea, when the disciples are paralyzed by fear, Christ walks on the waves and speaks, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” The narrative reminds us: God is not absent from the madness but is often most present within it.

The presence of chaos is not a sign of divine absence but rather an invitation to go deeper spiritually in order to find stability again. Meister Eckhart wrote that “God is not found in the soul by adding anything, but by a process of subtraction.” This quote highlights his belief that spiritual growth comes from letting go of attachments and worldly desires, rather than acquiring more things or experiences. Eckhart’s concept emphasizes detachment and self-emptying or catharsis as I said when we were at the park. These states are crucial for experiencing God. It means depending on God and God’s qualities in our lives for us to make sense of the madness we call life, because life can get messy. Where in the problem are your qualities or distinctives of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, joy, inventiveness, inspiration, kindness, calmness or ingenuity — These are all aspects of God. Many times plan B is a much better plan than A because plan B makes us stretch past the perfect to the adapted version. When chaos strips away illusion and security, what remains may be the space in which God’s presence can finally be felt the most. The disciples were afraid in the boat, but Jesus called out to them, and they could see him walking on the water. In whatever storm you are in, look deeply and you will see the Presence in the dark.

God is not a distant architect, but an active participant in creation—a co-sufferer who moves with us through the unpredictable rhythms of living, constantly showing us new possibilities from the raw material of disorder.

Every individual faces moments when life seems to come apart: the loss of a loved one, the betrayal of a friend, a sudden diagnosis, or the shattering of long-held dreams. These are the times when our faith is tested. Yet, stories abound of people who have found profound spiritual renewal in the very heart of their suffering.

And it is a unique time for spiritual growth or renewal. Everything, including God, is in a continuous state of becoming and change. Consider the artist who, after losing everything in a fire, finds inspiration in the ashes to create works that speak to resilience and hope, like a phoenix rising or the story of resurrection. Our best qualities are ones we can continue to have when we are under the most pressure. Look and you will find: a stranger’s kindness, a sudden clarity, a sense of accompaniment that cannot be explained except as the presence of the divine. These can all become glimpses of God in the storm.

They can also be sources of creativity. Creative expression often is nourished by chaos. Artists, poets, and musicians have long relied on the problems of the world to create works that speak to the soul’s longing for order and beauty. Where would music be without jazz or the blues, or even songs about being a broken-hearted lover. The Psalms, ancient songs of lament and praise, are born from heart ache and times God seemed too far to feel or see. But in the discordant improvisation of creation itself, order emerges from chaos, the divine is found.

But you might have to look intently for God’s goodness in the world. The disciples in the boat were unable to recognize Jesus right away. They knew him by his voice. Faith, for many, is not the absence of chaos, but the courage to seek God within it. Prayer, meditation, and mindful awareness become anchors for the soul when the waters of life are tossing you about.

Communities of faith gather not only to celebrate, but to offer mutual support. In others we many times find God’s presence in shared vulnerability. They are places to seek connection. Whether through a faith community, support group, or trusted confidant, sharing chaos with others transforms isolation into solidarity and opens the possibility of encountering God in another’s love and compassion. It is good to find community among Friends.

In a world that prizes noise and productivity, silence is often avoided and distractions help take our minds off the negative in life. Yet, it is in silence that the whisper of God can be discerned. Take time each day to sit with the chaos, neither resisting nor fleeing it. Allow the noise to settle, and listen for the still, small voice.

Chaos invites us to reconsider our life narratives. Instead of seeing disorder as a punishment or failure, view it as a chapter in the greater story of growth. Reframe chaos as an opportunity for transformation in which faith is made stronger. Philippians 4:8 reminds us that when we are discouraged we are to think on the good things in life. I am not saying neglect, but seek healing, and seek what is right, what is just, what is kind, what is loveable, what is pure. If you seek it you can find it in your life, then tell yourself that this is a good world and we are good people going about the best that we can in this world.

Chaos sometimes makes is want to cling to something for security. But many times, you have to let go. When external events are unpredictable, establish simple rituals: light a candle, recite a prayer, walk in nature, or read sacred texts. These acts remind us that the sacred persists even when order is lost.

Maybe the answer to reordering the chaos is to focus on others. In the middle of chaos, serving others can become a touch stone of the divine. When the world feels out of control, simple acts of kindness and grace remind us that good can still be produced at this time. As simple as it is to smile at the cashier or wish a stranger a good day. This might be a time to do simple gentle things in this world, or it can also be a time to add a service to your life to help it maintain some order. Maybe we are interested in feeding the hungry, comforting the grieving, advocating for justice. Doing and being for others can transform a time that felt God has abandoned into a time where God’s face is revealed in those we serve.

Faith is not certainty. It is a willingness to trust in the presence of God even when all evidence seems to point to God’s absence. The paradox is that God is often most present precisely where we feel the most alone.

Chaos is an invitation, not to despair, but to discover. We leave behind the illusion of control to enter the wild, wondrous territory where faith grows. In the heart of disorder, when the familiar falls away, we find not only the limits of our strength, but the vastness of divine presence.

To find God in the chaos is to believe that meaning can be forged in the fire, that hope can bloom in the desert, and that even in the silence, there is a voice calling to us to not be afraid. As we step out, let us do so in faith, knowing God is leading us onward. Don’t be afraid. We are accompanied through all the storms of life.

Queries:

• When have you felt chaos of a storm but found greater meaning in life by going through it?
• When have you seen something that happened that was not good have a better-than-expected outcome?