Peace in the Chaos

This time of year is a busy one for our family. Starting in Dec thru March, we have a total of 13 birthdays not including the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior. In February alone, we had 5 including my beautiful bride. Throw in Valentine’s Day and needless to say we had our hands full and that’s not counting all the activities. My oldest is into horse riding and has weekly lessons, my son is a baseball fanatic and just joined a travel ball team, my middle daughter loves gymnastics and cheer (she calls it cheernastics) which she goes to once a week and my youngest, at a fresh 2 years old, get into everything. Serving on staff as the Young adult pastors, adds to the beautiful chaos that is our lives.

One windy, cold afternoon, I sat in my truck at the end of my lunch break and a small tree caught my eye. Wind blowing constantly, provided little relief for the branches furthest from the trunk, but as they grew closer to the trunk itself, the more stable they were. In fact, judging by the trunk itself, the wind and the cold had no effect at all. I know what you’re thinking and I’m not about to get into the “roots and fruits” teaching….although it would tie-in nicely. The smaller branches furthest away were in a constant state of turmoil with the air consistently moving all around them.

This reminds me of the craziness or business we face in life.

Just like in Matthew 14 when Peter walked on water, the wind and waves distracted his focus from his sustaining source. When he deviated from his focus on Christ to the distractions, he sank. Our focus can be easily derailed from what and who we are connected to and shift to our circumstances and situations. The more we gravitate toward our circumstances, the greater our chances are being removed from our source. The further we grow away from our source, the more impact the surrounding world (life) has on us and it can and will consume us if we do not redirect our hearts and minds back to our source of life.

Being in a busy season is not bad in itself. Just don’t lose your focus on Him.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Take a few seconds today to take a step back from everything to see where you stand.
Is your relationship with God like the small branches being distanced from the trunk?
Are you in a busy season?
And have the “wind and waves” distracted you?

Take this time to redirect your heart and mind to the Prince of Peace.
Are you in a resting season or are you somewhere in between? Know that the busy season is on its way so shift your focus from the winds to the one who holds you in place. Ask the Lord to keep you vigilant and steadfast so that when the winds do hit, you are positioned closer to the “trunk”.

Please know that no matter what season you are in, you are NOT alone. He goes before you and has set people in your life to encourage and support you through it all. He is with you through every step of the way. Consider this a reminder from God, you are loved… you are cherished…. you are His.

Be blessed, Clint Fields