LIFE, CHAOS AND CHRIST

Psalm 23
John 10:11-15


Confused, disorganized, unpredictable, out of control – both describe the state of chaos and our lives at times. How do I know? Take a look at my desk – it's a great visual of how life is going for me. There are times when it looks like a filing cabinet vomited on it.

Oh, I try to keep my life under control. I really, really, really do. I organize my life with schedules, action plans and deadlines. I live by my planner (although that's not working so well at the moment because I can't find it). Everything in it's place, and every place has its thing, but, they seldom seem to stay there.

No matter how well I plan, things happen that I can't anticipate and prepare for:

  • Like my cell phone taking a header into a toilet in the ladies' room at a local fast food restaurant.
  • Or picking up a nail in not one but both back tires on my recent vacation.
  • Or the “good news, bad news” scenario at the doctor's office when the good news is not all that good.
  • Or that conversation with my dad that I didn't realize at the time would be our last.

Life is chaotic – the world is chaotic, and when all our efforts to keep everything in control fail, and those in authority seem to only make matters worse, in whom can we we put our hope and trust?

We can put them in Christ.

In John 1:1-18, we're told that it is through Jesus the order and harmony of creation is brought forth out of the confusion and unpredictability, the chaos, of the void. Jesus is the Word that brings new life into being and redemption to the mess of human lives and the world.

Jesus calls himself the good shepherd, the leader who isn't in it for the money, the corner office, the prestige, the benefits package or the power. Jesus is the leader who leads not from a office, disconnected from the needs of his people. He doesn't lead us from the safety of the rear. He's right there on the front lines of the chaos of life with us.

Psalm 23 assures us that Christ will lead us to the places we need to be:
  • Places where our physical needs are taken care of, where there is healing, rest for weary bodies, and emotional and physical safety.
  • Places were we be spiritually renewed and refreshed and our hearts strengthened by God's peace and comfort; where our faith will be nourished as Jesus through the Holy Spirit guides and corrects us.
  • Places of assurance where we need not fear that chaos will have the final word in our life or that we will ever be separated from the love of God through Christ.

Even in the darkest of times, Jesus reminds us that we are His, and He is ours; that we bear God's sign and seal, chosen, loved and called sons and daughters. Christ invites us to His table to feast to our heart's satisfaction on His grace.

Psalm 23 is a promise. A promise that Christ will lead us in the midst of the chaos of life to places of peace, comfort, love and hope. A promise that Christ's presence is with us in the here and now of everyday living and will always be with us in the future that awaits us.


Jesus, our leader, our Lord and savior, redeems the chaos of the world and of the human heart. We are His, and He is ours, and nothing will keep Him from being there with us, no matter what.

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