When Will The Chaos In My Life Stop?

Recently one morning I had some stuff to do that was scheduled but I was feeling a bit of doubt deep down inside because I had been praying for something that hadn’t happened yet. I felt this way and wanted to stay home honestly but I had things to do so I left and while I was driving I noticed a van in front of me that cut a car off in traffic and I thought “wow that guy doesn’t know how to drive” but then something happened when we got to a stoplight. The car that got cut off was driven by a man that was obviously angry so he jumped out his car and grabbed a tire iron, went over to the van and smashed in the window and punched the guy RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC!!! This happened literally right in front of me and I was terrified!!! I’ve never seen anyone that angry before and do something that crazy.

After this I was driving home and when I got close to my apartment complex I saw a huge black smoke cloud and I thought “Oh my, here we go… round 2”  so I went in and tried to see what was happening and the apartments right next to mine were on fire and when I say on fire I mean ON FIRE! The entire building was blazing up… the smoke was dark black and the fumes were everywhere filling the sky! There were like 30 firetrucks and police cars outside and I thought “this is one of craziest days I’ve ever had. It’s literally chaos all around me today!”

Have you ever had a crazy day? Have you ever had a day of constant chaos? Maybe in your crazy day you didn’t see things happen around you like I did but you had those things happen to you. Your crazy day could’ve been filled with a bill that was more than you could afford, a crazy kid that was running wild, a spouse that wouldn’t stop screaming at you, a test you failed that you desperately need to pass… or perhaps like me, filled with a little bit of doubt that something would happen.

A Guy Who Knows Crazy

There was once a guy named Job who experienced hell on earth and that’s the best way to describe it to you. Job was wealthy and had just about anything that you could ever want. Job suddenly started losing everything that he owned one day at time until he had nothing left to his name.

^13-15 Sometime later, while Job’s children were having one of their parties at the home of the oldest son, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing in the field next to us when Sabeans attacked. They stole the animals and killed the field hands. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.”

¹⁶ While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, “Bolts of lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and fried them—burned them to a crisp. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.”

¹⁷ While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, “Chaldeans coming from three directions raided the camels and massacred the camel drivers. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.”

^18-19 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, “Your children were having a party at the home of the oldest brother when a tornado swept in off the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the young people and they died. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.” (Job 1:14-19 MSG)

Job lost everything he owned… even his children died! It’s safe to say Job has had a couple of crazy days in this story. This guy experienced more loss and suffering than I’ve ever experienced and I can’t imagine what it would be like losing all of those things in that short of time.

I’m almost positive that Job wanted to give up and be done. Wouldn’t you? I mean we feel like that sometimes when we get a bill we can’t pay in the mail and no one had died! Even when all of these terrible things are happening to Job he says something that I want to make note of for you.

Still, I know that God lives—the One who gives me back my life—and eventually he’ll take his stand on earth. And I’ll see him—even though I get skinned alive!—see God myself, with my very own eyes. Oh, how I long for that day! (Job 19:23-27 MSG)

“I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans. (Job 42:2 MSG)

Can’t you see the pain in his words? How he longs to see God do something good for him? Again I can’t imagine the pain he was feeling but even though he had pain he was still sure that he was going to see God’s glory in his life. Even though Job had no hope he spoke hope. I wish I had that much faith sometimes and if you’re honest I bet you do as well.

I can compare my battles to Job’s battles and see what I’m going through isn’t much compared to what he was going through. I’m not saying that my battles and feelings are invalid because they’re not and neither are yours! We feel really pain and feelings but what I am saying is that Job’s story is hope for me and you.

What’s awesome is even it seems like everything is out of control God is still in control. Have you ever heard the song, “He’s got the whole world in his hands, he’s got the whole world in his hands.” God really does have the whole world in his hands, and he’s got you and your situation in his hands as well.

After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10 NIV)

The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost (Joel 2:25 NLT)

God says he’s going restore what was taken from you. He says he’s going to restore what it was that you lost! That’s exactly what he did for Job! Job came into his due season… he ended up getting back everything he lost plus more!

God is not done with you yet, he’s not done with what you’ve been praying for yet! He still has great things in store for you, he still has amazing things in your future. You will see a victory and be restored. You will be blessed and God will show favor on you just like he did for Job. It looks like it’s over, the facts aren’t on your side, the natural side says it’s done and completed but we serve a supernatural God who is moving things around for you, if you’re still breathing God is not done with you. Be encouraged by Job’s words and note how convinced he was that God would do something for him.

Reflect:

• What’s your circumstances in life right now?
• Have you shared with God about what your needs are right now?
• What’s one thing you can take away from this devotional and apply to your circumstances?