Chaos Now For Beauty Later
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19, NLT)
I am in the midst of a kitchen reno and my house looks like a disaster zone. The simplest tasks are complicated and frustrating. The kettle is in the en suite bathroom, the tea bags are on the coach, the mugs are somewhere in the living room. Everything takes longer. Nothing looks familiar.
Even when it’s time to rest it’s hard to relax in a room that is literally stacked to the ceiling. The other day I stood on the bare concrete floor and thought about the beautiful kitchen that is going in. I remembered all the years I had prayed for a place of my own and I took a deep breath. “It’s chaos now for beauty later,” I said to my roommate and I heard a whisper in my heart. Oh, there’s a lesson in that.
If your life feels like a frustrating mess right now is it possible that God has renovations underway?
Isaiah 43:19 reminds us that God is at work before we’ve even noticed what He’s up to. We see the inconvenience; God sees a temporary diversion that sets us on the right path. Renovations, whether they’re in your kitchen or your heart, are a messy business. But it’s easier to tolerate the inconvenience when you have a picture of what’s coming.
God’s plans for us are so much more beautiful than the kitchen my little brain dreamed up. His plans give us hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) So if you’re in the midst of unwanted change, take a deep breath. It’s chaos now for beauty later.
Father in Heaven, When I look around me and see confusion and loss, pain and longing, injustice or slander or lack, remind me that You, the very God of Heaven know my name. You know the cry of my heart and You know the character I need to build to live out the plans You have for me. When it’s time to renovate, help me to yield graciously to the changes You have ordained for me. Help me to be quick to see You in the chaos and quick to remember that You have not forgotten me, or left me behind. I am never leftovers in your economy, never second best. Give me Your peace as I wait to see the beauty you are creating. In Your name I pray, Amen
Question: Is your life under construction? What verses do you find helpful when the world tilts? How has God brought beauty out of your chaos in the past?
If life looks pretty unfamiliar right now, come talk to a mentor. We’d love to pray with you as you walk through what God is doing.
10 Responses to “Chaos Now For Beauty Later”
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Oh yes THANK YOU FOR YOUR STORIES and SHARING YOU HEART and HOW HE WORKS WITH US….Beauty for Ashes is what HE has given me. From the womb my life has been filled chaos….rejections, abandonment’s, abuse, addictions, sorrow, sickness and loss after loss and every sin under the sun….letting go over and over…..just now at age 53 can I SEE the BEAUTY…the restoration is FINALLY HERE…..AND ALL I CAN SAY is KEEP GOING PPL….HE HAS A PLAN and a PURPOSE for it ALL……AND HE IS FAITHFUL!! PRAISE HIM in the STORMS……and at some point….YOU WILL SEE HIS HAND in ALL OF IT!! FOREVER GRATEFUL for EVERY TRIAL, EVERY WOUND, EVERY HARDSHIP and yes….EVERY LOSS that TAUGHT ME…..WHO HE IS…and who I AM….IN HIM!! One GRATEFUL DAUGHTER of MY DADDY MOST HIGH….HE HAD THE BEST PLANNED FOR ME…..ALL ALONG!!
Thank you Claire for your prayer and the link to the song Only You and The Father’s Love Letter. I thank God for you. God’s love is so amazing that He can use complete strangers to touch the lives of His children at the very moment when they are so vulnerable. I’ve always believed in the power of the pen and the written word and today it has never been more real to me. May God continue to you use and your ministry team to touch the lives of more women across the globe. One thing God has given us – its the love of Christ and the love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you.
Isn’t God’s timing amazing Vivien? What you wrote reminds me of a song we sang at church years ago. The chorus says, “With a word You spoke the heavens into place, scattered stars and gave the earth it’s frame. What is man that You should touch him with Your grace? And who am I, o God, that You should know my name?” You can hear it on YouTube here.
Some of the worst lies Satan whispers to us are, “God has forgotten you. You don’t really matter.” They’re powerful because they speak to the deep fear we hold inside ourselves, “What if I really am as small as I feel?” But time and again God speaks against that. He pours out His love for us – before we even acknowledged Him. I’ve linked the Father’s Love Letter here before, but it sounds like today would be an excellent day for you to read it again. It lists out all of the scripture where God talks about who you are and how He feels about you. When Satan whispers that you are defeated, read this out loud. Let the words remind you (and him) who you really are.
Can I pray for you right now?
God, I’m here to pray for Vivien. I don’t know what the past days and weeks have held for her, but You do. You know the heavy things that are weighing on her today, the worries and struggles, the places where there is too much or not enough. I pray that You would be very close to her today. I pray that she would hold firm to what You have told her that she is valuable and wanted and precious and important. Remind her that You have plans for her, good plans, plans to give her hope and a future. I pray that You would be her shield today and that she would feel strengthened by Your love. Give Vivien rest and the gift of peace. In Your name I pray, Amen
I’m glad to hear that Ayana, thanks for taking the time to write in.
Lori, I can relate to that feeling of, “is this something I did?” There are definitely some occasions when our choices lead us in a certain direction, maybe that’s why we’re quick to think that all challenges are our own fault? But the Bible is very clear that we will face trials of many kinds. It doesn’t say “if you face trials” it says WHEN. So often I get caught up in thinking, “But God this isn’t how I thought you were going to work this out” and God must just shake His head at my shortsightedness. Change is hard, but necessary, messy but worth it.
That sounds like a great song Winsome. My Mom used to remind us that “God isn’t finished yet” and that’s important to remember too.
Thank you Claire. This came into my email box on a day when i felt totally defeated by life and forgotten by God. Thanks for the reminder that the very God of Heaven knows my name and He has not forgotten me. He has a plan for me and he never give me 2nd best. Thanks once again for these encouraging words. May God continue to bless the works of your hands.
Thank You!! You really blessed my spirit. “It’s Chaos Now For Beauty Late”
Thank you, Sometimes in the middle of “unwanted change” I wonder if I brought the chaos on myself. If it’s not going great, I must have done something wrong? It’s that human thing; I had to giggle when you referenced our “little brains” dreaming things up in comparison to the promises of hope and a future, which God has already prepared for us. In trusting Him, there is peace in the midst of chaos (even in the kitchen). Nothing is too small for God. There is nothing that God can’t do. He’s the best interior decorator (I never thought of that before) … God is our Almighty Interior Decorator. His design is perfection. I’m always “under construction”.
Thank you, Claire, for sharing this perspective with the rest of us. Although “chaos” can be unnerving, this reminds me of the line from a song learned years ago, “God never moves without purpose or plan …” All that He does is with purpose, and ultimately will bring beauty out of the chaos. Thanks again.