Bringing Order to Chaos: How God Transforms Our Lives

*This is not the actual desk.

Recently, I was asked to substitute teach nearly every day at our local school. I had to decline several times, but finally, I caved on Friday. The lady who manages substitutes at the middle school asked me about Friday, and when I checked, there were only two spots left. I procrastinated as long as I could because, to be honest, I wasn’t excited about subbing for either class.

Later, I checked again—and wouldn’t you know it, another absence popped up. It was from a teacher who’s rarely absent, and the classes were full of my favorite seventh graders.

Now, my substitute teaching strategy is pretty simple: I sub for teachers I have relationships with (which means I often get called first when they're absent), and I follow students I like.

Many of the students even know about this and will ask if their class schedules are in "my book." I keep a composition notebook where I track which teachers certain students have. When a teacher I like is listed, I grab the assignment.

So, I grabbed this particular teacher’s absence—7th grade science. He’s known for several things: 1) He’s rarely absent, 2) He wears a tie every day, 3) He takes students on international educational trips, 4) He teaches advanced science classes, and 5) He’s not a fan of God.

I can’t claim to know this teacher well, but I’ve been around enough that he does respond when I speak to him. With all that I’ve outlined above, you’d think he’d be a neat, organized guy… but not so much.

I almost included a picture of his desk (which I do have), but I figured that wouldn’t be the best idea. Please don’t think I’m speaking ill of him—I’m just acknowledging how we often make assumptions about people, whether positive or negative.

When I walked into the room, I couldn’t find anything. Papers were stacked literally a foot high, candy, pencils, and all kinds of other items were scattered all over his podium. Simply put, it was chaos.

I told one of the office ladies, “Now I understand why a big whiteboard sits in front of his desk.” They were just as shocked as I was.

Over the years, I’ve heard people say things like, “I thrive in chaos,” or “It’s not messy, it’s controlled chaos.” There’s even an episode of my favorite TV show where a guy has files all over the place and insists that, while it looks like chaos to others, he knows exactly where everything is.

Maybe that’s true. Maybe it’s not.

Personally, I don’t like mess (though I have my fair share of it). I don’t like clutter in my office. I admit, I subscribe to the idea that “a cluttered space is evidence of a cluttered mind.”

Of course, that got me thinking…

In Genesis 1, we read how God created and ordered the world out of chaos. Verse 2 says, "the earth was formless and void," so God gave it form and filled it with purpose.

Then, in 1 Corinthians 14:33, Paul writes, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace”—a principle he applies to how we should approach worship and use our gifts to edify the body of Christ.

Our God brings order out of chaos. He brings peace, form, and purpose.

Sometimes, our lives feel chaotic, too. But I want to encourage you: when that happens, lean into our loving Father, the One who brings order to the chaos. The One who brings peace, not disorder.

Anyway, I was just thinking…